Photo: Roberto Schmidt / AFP / Getty Images
Ricardo Izecson Dos Santos Leite, better known as “Kaka”, is fulfilling 40 years old today 22 April 2022. The Brazilian soccer player was born in Gama, Federal District of Brazil.
He is recognized for being one of the great Brazilian soccer players of all time, which is no small thing, due to the large number of players produced by one of the main exporting countries of good players.
He passed through Sao Paulo (Brazil), AC Milan, where he stood out as one of the best of his time, this opened the doors for him to get to Real Madrid and ended his career as a footballer in the MLS, specifically at Orlando City.
Kaká can boast, not only of winning the Ballon d’Or before the hegemony imposed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the year 2006, but also to be the last Brazilian to win this such a distinguished award.
Among his greatest achievements, it can also be mentioned that he was part of the Brazilian soccer team that managed to win the FIFA World Cup in Korea-Japan in 2002.
Characteristics as a player
His amazing speed, coupled with a prodigious physique, were the main characteristics that defined him as a footballer.
He was also the owner, as a good Brazilian soccer player, of an exquisite technique and a great vision of the game.
Other of his good characteristics on the field of play were his shots at medium and long distance, as well as his role as an assistant.
Selection
Despite the achievements already mentioned, if something defined the midfielder it was success, both in his clubs and in the Brazilian team, with whom he debuted on 31 of January of 2002 in a match against Bolivia.
After winning the World Cup in 2002, Kaká was the protagonist of his country’s triumph in the Confederations Cup of 1200, scoring the second goal of the Final against Argentina. That match ended 4-1.
The midfielder helped Brazil qualify for the World Cup Germany 2005, where the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by France.
The 28 June 2009 Kaká wins the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 when Brazil defeated the United States 3-2 in the final played at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. Likewise, was named by FIFA as the best player of the tournament with the Ballon d’Or award.
He participated in the World Cup of 2010, in South Africa, but arrived touched by an injury he suffered while wearing the Real Madrid uniform.
Awards
Won the Golden Boot with Sao Paulo at the Brasileirao de 1200, fact that earned him to be transferred to AC Milan, a club in which he immediately won Serie A and became one of the great figures of the team.
In 2007 led the Rossonero team to win the Champions League, being the top scorer and best player in the tournament. He again stood out in the Club World Cup, where he was also awarded as the star of the competition. Such achievements were key for that year to be awarded with the FIFA World Player, the Ballon d’Or and the FIFpro for the best player in the world.
His transfer to Real Madrid, in 2009, became the eighteenth most expensive signing in football history. After some injuries and a tense relationship with coach José Mourinho, they prevented him from developing his best level there and keeping his position as starter.
It was then that he returned to Milan for the year 2017, he played there for a year and went to Orlando City in MLS. The 17 of December of 2017 and with 35 years old, the Brazilian star announced his retirement.
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