Kaka, what a player! Versatile, the definition of football IQ, the man's nearly done it all. From winning a World Cup in 2002 with an invincible Brazil squad just aged 20, to winning the Ballon d'Or and the Champions League, he's really been quite the underrated player. Let's take a look through highlights of his career in shirts!
2002 - Brazil:
Playing for Sao Paulo, coming out as a young superstar only aged 20, he was just able to be part of the 23 call-ups for Brazil. When you're playing along the likes of Ronaldinho, Cafu, Gilberto Silva, Ronaldo and Rivaldo, it surely is hard to get playing time. He only ended up playing one game against Costa Rica, donning the number 23 - a shirt number higher than his age. Regardless, it's great experience for him and shot his stock up like there was no tomorrow at the time.
AC Milan (2003-2009):
In 2003, Kaka joined AC Milan for a fee of €8.5 million. He made an immediate impact for the Italian giants, helping them win the Serie A title in his debut season. He was named the UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder in 2005 and 2007 and won the Ballon d'Or in 2007. In his six years at Milan, he scored 95 goals in 270 appearances. Make no mistake, he was an indispensable part of the team that won the Champions League in 2007, and none less. Never forget the famous saying, "the last human to have won the Ballon d'Or was Kaká". Of course, this was before Modrić and Benzema won the famous award.
2010 - Brazil:
Needless to say that Brazilian selection in 2006 had high expectations, arguably being stronger than their 2002 lineup - but through an exit to eventual finalists France, we move to 2010. It's a beautiful kit, definitely deserved a shoutout, but that red card sums up Brazil's campaign in 2010. Surely a disappointing exit to Netherlands, but who knows what we could've seen Kaká cook had he not received that red - off a dive that Ivorian player Abdul Kader Keita did after apparently being struck in the head (shoutout to our Ivory Coast shirt, catch them while stocks last!).
Real Madrid (2009-2013):
Onto better things. In 2009, Kaka made a high-profile move to Real Madrid for a fee of €65 million (don't forget 65 million was big money at the time now it could get you an English player from the Prem that's a fringe starter). He struggled with injuries during his time in Spain but still managed to make 120 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 29 goals. When you're playing along the likes of Ronaldo and Ozil under Mourinho, you're likely doing assists more than goals - contributing to their success. He won the Copa del Rey and La Liga titles during his time in Madrid.
Orlando City (2015-17):
After one year stint in his return to AC Milan, Kaka joined MLS side Orlando City as their first designated player in 2015. He helped the team reach the playoffs for the first time in their history in 2016. He retired from professional football in 2017, having scored 25 goals in 77 appearances for the club. What a player, big thanks to God for giving us a player who revolutionized the Art of Midfielding.
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Note: These photos are not ours and are used for non-commercial use. These are written solely to celebrate Kaka's career in shirts, and no more. Should you be the rightful owner of one of these pictures & have an issue, feel free to contact us and we'll be more than happy to replace it.