Kaka: from legend to disappointment

The friendly between Real Madrid Y AC Milan brings back old memories to football lovers. What was once one of Europe's classics is currently not a regular match in the Champions League (this year Milan will return to the competition seven seasons later). However, this match awakens in the memory not only I find them, but also the players who shared both uniforms, and one of the most relevant is Kaka.

The former Brazilian midfielder (39 years old and currently retired) began his career in professional football in the 2000-01 season in the Sao Paulo with only 19 years. In the three seasons he played in Brazil, Kaká participated in 59 games in which he scored 33 targets. However, his biggest showcase for world football was the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. Brazil (who took the cup that year) with stars like Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho or Cafu, a young Kaka from 20 years he was part of the staff. Of course, he was only able to participate in a single match of the tournament.

AC Milan

In the 2003-04 season, Kaká made the leap to European football and was transferred to Milan for the amount of 8.5 million euros.. It was on the team rossoneri where he offered his best game: in his six seasons in the Italian city, Kaká participated in a total of 270 games in which he scored 95 goals and became a true legend of the club. With Kaká as the team's best player and Ancelotti as coach, they won the last Milan European Cup on May 23, 2007. That same year, Kaká won the Ballon d'Or before the Messi-Cristiano pairing.

Real Madrid

That Ballon d'Or and that great game shown in the Italian team earned Kaká the passport to Madrid. In the 2009-10 season, Kaká signed for Real Madrid for the amount of 67 million euros., at the time, the most expensive signing in the history of football (until in that same market Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at Madrid for 94 million euros).

However, that campaign was not the first in which Kaká played at the Bernabéu. In December 2002, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the white club, Madrid faced a FIFA team made up of established stars and young international talents. Among them was Kaká, who at just 20 years old dazzled Madridismo (he scored the tying goal in a match that ended 3-3). A year later, his representative offered the Madrid club for 8 million euros, but the board said no to the operation because the footballer's name “sounded wrong.” Six years later they ended up signing him for a price eight times higher.

In any case, the Madridistas do not have as good a memory of the Brazilian as the Milan fans. In the capital of Spain it never managed to give the performance it showed in Italy. In Madrid he played a total of four seasons in which he participated in 120 games and scored 29 goals. His injuries, his bad relationship with Mourinho and his bad game made him one of the biggest disappointments in white history.

Return to Milan

His bad seasons in Madrid made the white team get rid of him and sign for the club in which he had shown his best level: AC Milan. In the 2013-14 season, Kaká played a year in Italy in which he felt like a footballer again. Of course, without becoming the player of the first stage at San Siro. Even so, the Brazilian participated in a total of 37 games in which he scored 9 goals and distributed 5 assists.

To the United States passing through Sao Paulo

Already with 31 years and with a level much lower than that of Kaká's first stage in Italy, the midfielder decided to go to retire to the United States, specifically to Orlando City. But before going there, he decided again to go back to his origins and played half a season in the Sao Paulo, club where he debuted and became known. Six months later, the Brazilian began his new career in MLS, where he played three seasons, participated in a total of 78 games and scored 25 goals. In that same club he retired at the age of 35.

Currently, Kaká is enjoying his retirement life with his family and friends. He is not linked to any club, although he does collaborate with Adidas (the brand that sponsors him) and with the EA Sports FIFA video game.