- Born:
- April 22, 1982, Brasilia, Brazil (age 44)
Kaká
Who is Kaká?
What are some of Kaká’s major accomplishments?
When did Kaká retire?
Kaká (born April 22, 1982, Brasilia, Brazil) is a retired Brazilian football (soccer) player who was named the World Player of the Year by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and won the Ballon d’Or in 2007. Widely regarded as one of the greatest attacking midfielders of his generation, Kaká was renowned for his efficient runs, vision, passing, ability to dictate the tempo of the match, and skill at scoring goals. He was part of Brazil’s FIFA World Cup-winning team in 2002 and played for top-tier clubs in South America and Europe, including São Paulo FC, AC Milan, and Real Madrid.
Early life
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite owes his nickname to his younger brother Rodrigo, who as a child could not pronounce Ricardo and could manage only “Caca.” Kaká was seven when the family moved to São Paulo. A keen football enthusiast, he quickly joined the youth academy of São Paulo FC and signed his first professional contract with the club at age 15. At age 18 he suffered a serious spinal injury (sustained in a swimming accident), which threatened his career. He recovered, however, and made his first-team debut for São Paulo FC in January 2001. That year he scored 12 goals in 27 matches as an attacking midfield player.
International career
In 2002 Kaká debuted on the Brazilian national team, playing in a match against Bolivia. He was also selected for Brazil’s 2002 World Cup squad, alongside players such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, and Cafu. Although Kaká played for only about 20 minutes the entire tournament, appearing as a substitute in Brazil’s group-stage match against Costa Rica, his team ended up winning the World Cup. In 2005 he helped Brazil secure its second FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring in the final against Argentina.
In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Kaká scored Brazil’s opening goal of the tournament in a 1–0 victory over Croatia. Although he helped Brazil reach the quarterfinals, the team lost in that round 1–0 to France. Kaká won his second and Brazil’s third Confederations Cup in 2009 after defeating the United States 3–2 in the final. He scored two goals in a 4–3 victory over Egypt in the group stage and was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. Kaká was also part of the 2010 Brazil squad. He played a key role in Brazil’s run, but the team lost 2–1 to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. He failed to make the national side when his home country hosted the 2014 Cup. He scored 29 goals in 92 appearances for Brazil.
Club career
Kaká’s growing exposure on the world stage prompted interest from leading European clubs, and in August 2003 AC Milan signed him for €8.5 million (about $9.6 million). He made his first appearance in Italy the next month in a 2–0 win over Ancona. Kaká was equally adept at initiating and finishing attacks, and his forceful all-around skills developed with Milan. Under manager Carlo Ancelotti, he helped AC Milan win the Serie A title in 2004 and emerged as one of the world’s best attacking midfielders. AC Milan also reached the finals of the 2005 UEFA Champions League but lost to Liverpool FC on penalties after surrendering a three-goal lead. Kaká finished eighth and seventh, respectively, in balloting for FIFA Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006 before winning almost every available honor in 2007, when he won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year. In addition, Milan won the Champions League title in 2007, defeating Liverpool FC 2–1 in the final. Kaká finished as the tournament’s top scorer, netting 10 goals.
After signing an extension with Milan in early 2008, Kaká became the highest-paid footballer in the world, with an annual income from the game alone amounting to €8 million (about $12 million) and extensive corporate sponsorship deals. Although he professed a desire to finish his career in Milan, Kaká transferred to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid in June 2009, a move that was spurred by the Italian club’s dire financial straits. Persistent injuries limited his impact at the club, although he was a key figure on the Real squads that won the 2011 Copa del Rey (Spanish cup) and the 2011–12 La Liga (Spanish top division) titles. In 2013 Kaká returned to AC Milan. The following year Kaká and Milan mutually agreed to terminate his contract, and he signed to play with the expansion team Orlando City SC of North America’s Major League Soccer (MLS), which began play in 2015. He was loaned to São Paulo for the 2014–15 season. Unlike other notable stars who played in MLS toward the end of their careers, Kaká kept up his strong play in the U.S., earning All-Star honors in each of his first two seasons with Orlando City. He retired from professional football in December 2017.