Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, commonly known as Kakà, entered the schene of international football in a game v. Bolivia in 2002 and a few weeks later scoring one of the six Brazil goals in their 6-1 friendly win v. Iceland. This was just in front of the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Kaka made the 2002 World Cup squad, but was not selected for the final and at the age of 20 only played 25 minutes, in the 5-2 win v. Costa Rica. But he can then of course regard himself as a World Cup winner lifting that magic trophy for the first and only time in his career.
Kakà did play a more major part in the next two World Cup’s in Germany (06) and South Africa (10), but had to see his Brazil ending their runs in the quarter finals of both tournaments. Kakà scored one single goal in all of his World Cup games, the 1-0 winner v. Croatia in 2006.
A player of his capacity was of course noticed outside Brazil and being influential as a teenager with his club Sao Paulo and making an early debut in the national team, made Europe his next step, signing for AC Milan in August 2003. He soon found his place at AC and established himself and in time seen as one of the best players in the history of this fantastic football club.
Kakà won Serie A, Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League and in that same year of 2007 bcoming the Ballon D’or of that year. He later made a move Real Madrid (2009), where he also became a league and cup winner, later to return back to AC Milan for a second spell and after that sailing out for his last destination in football, MLS club Orlando City.
Though it wasn’t to be his last destination, joining Sao Paulo on loan for a while until Orlando City were officially part of the MLS circus. After his stint with his first club he finally made his debut in North America, and stayed on until 2017 when he at the age of 35 made a decision to leave the game.
Kakà is known for being a passionate Christian and The Bible is said to be his favorite book, he has since his early days in football been an Ambassador against hunger and not yet returned to football as he is looking for the right offer to come along, and we all hope we haven’t seen the last of Kakà in the World of football.
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