Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, known as Kaka, plays midfield for Brazil and AC Milan. Born on April, 22 1982 in Brasilia, Brazil, he started developing his football talents at an early age in Brazil. His football career was nearly brought to an abrupt end when at the age of 18 he suffered a likely paralysis-inducing spine fracture due to a pool accident. Although he endured the injury, Kaka made a complete recovery as he made his debut at Sao Paulo FC in 2001.
Kaka scored 22 goals in 49 soccer appearances for Sao Paulo FC over the next two seasons. He attracted attention from the major European Clubs. AC Milan won the race for his signature and Kaka joined the Italian club in 2003 for the price of £8.5 million. Kaka settled into life at the San Siro instantly and became a first team regular in his first month at the football club. Kaka managed to score 10 goals in 30 game appearances for Milan in the 2003-2004 season assisting the soccer club to win the Italian Series A title and the European Super Cup.
His career really flourished at AC Milan as his talents and skills were vastly celebrated by the football world when he was awarded Best Midfielder of the Champion’s League tournament in the 2004-05 season. Although Milan were beaten by English Premier League side Liverpool in the final, Kaka’s scintillating displays of football genius in the midfield position have seen soccer pundits attracting comparisons to Diego Maradona.In 2006, Real Madrid set the football press gossip columns afire when they enquired about recruiting Kaka. However, they were seriously rebuked by Milan who insisted Kaka wasn’t for sale. Kaka ended all speculation by signing a new sports contract with AC Milan keeping him at the San Siro until 2011.Kaka has become a vital part of the Brazilian National team since his debut in January, 2002. He played a role in Brazil’s 2002 FIFA World Cup win.
Kaka has matured into a midfield genius for Brazil. Kaka is currently considered as one of Brazil’s best football players. In the FIFA World Cup 2006, Kaka scored the first goal for Brazil of the football tournament. Despite a mighty start in the group stages, Brazil was knocked out by the France team in the quarter finals.In April 2007, a group of sports experts arranged by the Gazzetta Dello Sport in Italy proclaimed Kaka as the world’s best football player. Kaka is expected to win the most prestigious individual prize in football, the Ballon d’Or. Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson proclaimed Kaka as one of the two best football players on the globe—alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.He is currently the top scorer in the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League after scoring both goals for Milan in the first part of the semi-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Kaka scored early on in the second part against the same opponents.