Former Real Madrid and Brazil defender Cicinho detailed a severe battle with alcoholism that included drinking 70 beers in a single day and experiencing severe hallucinations, according to reports in Italian and Croatian sports media. The right-back, who played alongside global superstars during his career, revealed that he regularly arrived at club training sessions intoxicated.
Early Beginnings and Career Ascent
Born Cícero João de Cézare in Pradópolis, Brazil, in 1980, the defender started his professional journey with Botafogo and Atlético Mineira before moving to São Paulo. With São Paulo, he captured the Copa Libertadores and the Club World Cup in 2005. Those performances earned him a transfer to Real Madrid as one of the most promising right-backs in world football. However, his struggle with alcohol began long before his European transfer. Cicinho stated in an interview with the Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport that he first tried beer at age 13, describing how his consumption escalated over time as he grew older.
Intoxicated Training Sessions Under Capello
During his time at Real Madrid, Cicinho shared a locker room with Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and Roberto Carlos. Behind closed doors, however, his routine clashed sharply with the demands of elite sport. He told Gazzetta dello Sport that he would go to sleep at 4 a.m. and arrive at training drunk at 8 a.m. To mask the odor, he drank three or four coffees and smoked a pack of cigarettes before leaving his home. He maintained that his on-field performance remained strong enough that Capello suspected nothing of his condition.
Record Consumption and Hallucinations in Rome
The severity of the addiction deepened following his transfer to Roma in 2007. Cicinho described a personal peak of consumption during his Italian stint, telling interviewers that he set a daily record by drinking 70 beers and 15 caipirinhas alongside two packs of cigarettes in a single day. During a particularly dark phase of his alcoholism, he also reported experiencing a hallucination in which he believed he saw Jesus Christ after consuming 18 caipirinhas and 14 beers.
Family Struggles Led Cicinho to Seek Treatment in 2012
The addiction strained both his career and his family life. His father and sister took legal action to restrict his management of his assets, believing he could no longer handle his finances independently. Cicinho later expressed deep remorse over the impact of his behavior on his son. The turning point arrived in 2012 when he returned to Brazil, sought treatment with his wife’s support, and credited faith with helping him overcome his dependence. He later transitioned into a career as a football commentator and public speaker regarding substance abuse.
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