Kaka
is the complete package. His vision of the game is unparalleled and his
shooting ability strikes fear into opponents. No one in Europe can control the
tempo like the Brazilian. He is a consistent assist-man who concludes every
season with more than a handful of goals. Kaka’s leadership skills allow him to
shoulder any responsibilities that may arise. He’s a man whose football career
has been based on his quiet, out-of-the-spotlight life and strong religious
convictions.
During
his youth team years, Kaka tended to stand out above the rest. Sao Paulo first
took notice and by 2001 he had earned a starting spot with the first team,
played in 27 matches and scored 12 goals. The following season he knocked in
ten goals in 22 matches. After leading Sao Paulo to the Super Campeonato
Paulista title in 2002, Kaka debuted with the Brazilian national team. By then,
steady European interest in the 21-year old culminated in his signing with AC
Milan.
Kaka
played in 30 matches and scored ten goals en route to the Scudetto and Italian
Super Cup in his first year with Milan. In 2005, the attacking midfielder
almost single-handedly carried his team to the Champions League final, which
Milan lost in a penalty shootout against Liverpool. In 2007, Kaka became the
focal point of Milan’s offense and added Champions League and Club World Cup
titles to his trophy case. That same year he went on to win all the top
individual accolades, including the Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player of the Year
and FIFPro World Player of the Year.
Kaka
made his debut for Brazil in a 2002 friendly against Bolivia. That summer he
was a member of the 2002 World Cup-winning squad but received very little
playing time. In 2005, Kaka was included in Brazil’s squad for the FIFA
Confederations Cup and played all five matches, including a goal-scoring
performance in the final, while in 2006 he started in his first World Cup. He
has been a Seleção mainstay ever since.
Personal
In
Brazil, Kaka is a common nickname for those named Ricardo, and it’s what Rodrigo,
Kaka’s younger brother and also a football player, would call him. At the age of 15, Kaka suffered a
career-threatening spinal fracture as a result of a swimming pool accident.
Fortunatelty, however, no serious harm was done and he made a full recovery.
Honours
·
La
Liga: 2011/12
·
Torneio
Rio-Sao Paulo: 2001
·
Super
Campeonato Paulista: 2002
·
World
Cup: 2002
·
European
Super Cups: 2003, 2007
·
Scudetto:
2004
·
Supercoppa
Italia: 2004
·
Confederations
Cups: 2005, 2009
·
Champions
League: 2007
·
Club
World Cup: 2007
·
Copa
del Rey: 2011
·
Serie
A Player of the Year: 2004
·
UEFA
Champions League Best Midfielder: 2005
·
UEFA
Champions League Top Scorer: 2007
·
UEFA
Champions League Best Forward: 2007
·
FIFPro
World Player of the Year: 2007
·
Ballon
d'Or: 2007
·
FIFA
World Player of the Year: 2007
·
FIFA
Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2007
·
FIFA
Confederations Cup Golden Ball: 2009
Career
·
Sao
Paulo (2001-2003)
·
AC
Milan (2003-2009)
·
Real
Madrid (2009-present)
·
La
Liga debut:
·
International
for Brazil
Source : http://www.realmadrid.com
