| Brazilian footballer, midfielder Date of Birth: 22.04.1982 Country: Brazil |
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, better known by his nickname "Kaká" (pronounced with an accent on the second syllable), was born in 1982 to Bosco Izecson Pereira Leite and Simone Cristina dos Santos Leite. The nickname "Kaká" originated from his childhood difficulty pronouncing his own name, and it later became a worldwide sensation.
At the age of 18, Kaká debuted for the Brazilian club Sao Paulo in 2001, playing for the youth team. In his first season, he scored 12 goals in 27 matches and followed it up with 10 goals in 22 matches in his second season.
In 2003, Kaká joined the Italian club Milan for a fee of $8.5 million. He had been rejected by the Turkish club Gaziantepspor the year before for $1.5 million, but his talent was soon recognized. Within a month, he was promoted to the main team and went on to score 10 goals in 30 games that season. Milan won the Serie A championship and the European Super Cup, and Kaká scored 7 goals in 36 appearances in the Italian league.
The 2004-05 season saw Milan finish second in the league standings. Kaká was acclaimed as the "best midfielder in the Champions League tournament." He seamlessly integrated into the Milan team with his incredible speed, masterful ball control, accuracy, and game intelligence. His relentless effort and seemingly boundless energy were key to Milan's success. In 2005, Kaká was ranked ninth in the "Golden Ball" awards.
The 2006-07 season had Milan settling for third place in Serie A, after the scandal-ridden Italian football season began with penalties. However, the pinnacle of Kaká's club career came with Milan's victory in the 2006-07 Champions League. He was the tournament's top scorer, contributing several crucial goals in the knockout stages.
In 2007, Kaká was awarded the "Ballon d'Or" as the "Best Footballer in Europe." Later that year, he was recognized as the "FIFA World Player of the Year." Following this season, his footprints were immortalized on the Walk of Fame at Brazil's iconic Maracanã stadium. The legendary Pelé himself praised the young player as a "football genius."
In June 2009, Real Madrid announced that they had signed Kaká on a six-year contract. Kaká's loyalty to Milan prevented a potential move to Manchester City.
Kaká is deeply religious, which stems from his miraculous recovery from a horrific injury in 2000 that could have ended his career and even threatened his ability to walk. He attributes his healing to divine intervention. Since 2005, Kaká has been married to Caroline Celico, and they have a child together.
Kaká's younger brother, Rodrigo Izecson dos Santos Leite, also known as Digão, followed in his footsteps as a professional footballer.