Former Brazilian footballer Cicinho has been candid about his long struggle with alcoholism. At 45 years old, the former player for Real Madrid and AS Roma spoke about how he began drinking at 13 and continued for almost two decades. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the Brazilian recounted his descent into alcoholism, which began with his first beer at a party with friends. As he grew older and earned more money from football, his drinking increased.

Alcohol and Addiction

“The more we grew and earned, the more we drank. At Roma, I set a record in one day: 70 beers, 15 caipirinhas, and two packs of cigarettes,” Cicinho said. He admitted that alcohol became a way to escape his problems. He even got 25 tattoos while drunk because he was afraid of the pain and didn’t want to feel it. At Real Madrid, he played for a season before moving to AS Roma. There, his parties would often last until 4 a.m., and he would wake up at 8 to go to training.

He managed to hide his addiction by drinking three to four coffees and chewing gum before leaving the house to mask the smell of alcohol. He maintained his performance on the field, which is why those around him didn’t notice the problem immediately. The situation worsened after an accident in 2009, when he started drinking heavily again and realized he was also battling depression.

Journey to Recovery

Cicinho credits his wife, Mary, for playing a significant role in his recovery. She took him to church during their time in Rome, and he also went to therapy. Today, he says he hasn’t had a drink in 14 years. He now lives in São Paulo, working as a TV analyst and has been an evangelical pastor for ten months. Cicinho says he now conducts services and speaks about faith in church.

“Today I lead services, speak about the story of Jesus. I believe deeply in God. He helps you cleanse yourself of evil,” Cicinho added.