Kaká

Lore & Background

Kaká made his professional debut at São Paulo in 2001 at age 18. He joined AC Milan in 2003, winning Serie A in his first season. He led Milan to the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League title and won the Ballon d'Or in 2007. He transferred to Real Madrid in 2009 for €67 million, then returned to Milan in 2013 before joining Orlando City SC. He retired in 2017. With Brazil, he debuted in 2002 and won the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 2005 and 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, and played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

In Their Own Story

The air at San Siro was thick with anticipation, a sea of red and black pulsing under the floodlights. Kaká stood near the halfway line, adjusting his gloves not out of nervousness, but with the calm focus of a man who had already seen the outcome. The ball dropped to his feet. In a heartbeat, gravity seemed to lose its hold on him. His stride ate up the turf; defenders appeared frozen in amber as he surged forward, the ball magnetically adhered to his boot. He didn't sprint with frantic energy; he flowed like water cutting through stone, a blur of motion that left the defense disoriented.

Reader's Guide

Kaká was known for explosive pace, dribbling, passing, and goalscoring. He was named in the FIFA World XI and UEFA Team of the Year three times between 2006 and 2009. He was the first sportsperson to reach 10 million Twitter followers. He became the youngest ambassador of the UN World Food Programme in 2004 and was named by Time as one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2008 and 2009.

Did You Know?

• Kaká's younger brother Digão called him 'Cacá' because he could not pronounce 'Ricardo'; it evolved into Kaká.
• At age 18, Kaká suffered a career-threatening spinal fracture from a swimming pool accident but made a full recovery.
• Kaká was the top goalscorer in the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League with ten goals.
• He won the Golden Ball as best player at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.