GRIEF! Adílio, idol and one of the greatest players in Flamengo's history, dies at the age of 68

Flamengo fans lost one of their greatest idols this Monday. Former midfielder Adílio, who was immortalized in the red-black number 8 shirt, could not resist pancreatic cancer, a condition that has worsened in recent months. He was admitted to Rios D'Or Hospital. Adílio was 68 years old.

"A red and black angel who flies towards eternity.

The wings of a dreamy boy made him overcome any wall. The fields of Gávea built angelic friendships His feet seemed to float with the ball at his feet and that was how Adílio conquered the world wearing the Sacred Mantle. His smile, his generosity and his kindness enchanted those who knew him. The ultimate symbol of red-blackness expressed in the infinite embrace: celebrating. title goal with his arms reaching for the sky, allowing millions of us to enter the catharsis of euphoria, love and passion. His goals, dribbles and celebrations forever marked the history of Mais Querido. to revere "Brown" as a member of the highest shelf in our pantheon. Today, we say goodbye to our Camisa 8, but luckily for us, just like the outline of the immortalized number, Adílio is infinite", wrote Flamengo.

The player had already been treating the condition in recent months. He underwent surgery in March due to pain in the trunk region, but the health problem progressed. He leaves his wife Sônia and three children: Soni Adílio (36 years old), Adílio Júnior (41) and Bruna (42). The last two, from his first marriage, to Rosemary.

Adílio was a classic midfielder, with refined technique. He acted centrally or falling to the right of the field. As a child, he played football with his classmates from Cruzada São Sebastião, a community in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. One of his childhood friends, Julinho, who would later become Júlio César Uri Geller, accompanied him for almost his entire career at the red-black base. Between the beginning of his career at Flamengo, he played naked on the beach.

He wore the number 10 shirt on his debut, in 1975, but only at that moment, since the owner was Zico. With the 8, which he played for years with Carpegiani, he made history alongside Galinho and Andrade, in Flamengo's historic midfield. Together, they won the 1981 World Cup over Liverpool, the biggest title in the club's history.

Adílio spent 14 years at Flamengo. He also won the 1981 Libertadores, three Brazilians and five Cariocas. In total, he played 617 games with the red and black shirt, third most played for the club. He was considered by many to be the best on the field in the 1983 Brasileirão final, against Santos, in which he scored the third goal to make it 3-0. He played two games for the Brazilian national team, but ended up not being called up by Telê Santana for the World Cup. 1982, when he was at the height of his career.