Ricardo Kaka

Name: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
Born: Brazil, 22April 1982
Nationality: Brazil
Club: AC Milan
Height, Weight: 186 cm, 73 kg
Position: midfielder (attacking midfielder)
Back number: 22
Career:
1. Year 2000-2001 Club Sao Paolo (27 games, 12 goals)
2. Club Sao Paolo, 2001-2002 (22 games, 9 goals)
3. Year 2002-2003 Club Sao Paolo (10 games, 2 goals)
4. AC Milan Club Year 2003-2004 (10 games, 14 goals)
5. AC Milan Club Year 2004-2005 (52 games, 9 goals)
6. AC Milan Club Year 2006-2007 (49 games, 19 goals)
7. AC Milan Club Year 2007-2008 (48 games, 18 goals)
8. Year 2007-2008 Club AC Milan (1 games, 2 goals)
9. Year 2002-present National Team Brazil (52 games, 15 goals)
Achievements:
1. Year 2001 Torneio Rio (Sao Paolo)
2. Year 2002 Supercampeonato Paulista (Sao Paolo)
3. Year 2003 European Super Cup
4. Year 2004 Winner of the 2nd Intercontiental Cup (AC Milan), Champions of series A (AC Milan)

International Career

One of the best Brazilians

Kaká made his international debut in January2002 against Bolivia. He was a part of the national squad at the 2002 World Cup, but did not see much action even as Brazil won the World Championship, playing just 19 minutes of a first round match against Costa Rica.

Later, he was in action at the 2004 Copa América and the 2005 Confederations Cup, which were both won by Brazil, with Kakà scoring in the Confederation Cup final win over Argentina. He finished in joint tenth place in the voting for the 2004FIFA World Player of the Year award.

In the 2005 competition he finished two places higher. More recently, he has helped Brazil qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Kaká has matured as a player and is currently considered one of the best Brazilian footballers.

Club Career

Kaka in São Paulo FC

Kaká made his debut at São Paulo FC in 2001 when he was only 19 years old. That season he scored 12 goals in 27 appearances, and a further 10 goals in 22 appearances the following season, soon attracting attention from European clubs, and it was Milan who won the race to sign him. He joined Milan in 2003 for an €8.5m fee. His first appearance came in a match at Ancona, which Milan won 2-0. In all, he scored 10 goals in 30 appearances that season, winning the Italian Serie A Championship and the European Super Cup.

Fantastic in AC Milan

Kaká was an integral part of the team in the 2004-05 season, usually playing in a withdrawn role behind team-mate and good friend, striker Andriy Shevchenko, in a five-man midfield. He scored 7 goals in 36 league appearances, and also won the the Italian Super Cup with the club. Milan finished second to Juventus in the Serie A, and lost the UEFA Champions League final to Liverpool on penalty kicks. He was, however, voted the best midfielder in the European tournament. He also ended up ninth position on the 2005Golden Ball standing, earning 19 votes.

One of his more famous goals was the one against Fenerbahçe SK, in AC Milan's first game in the 2005-06 Champions League, won 3-1 by the Rossoneri . Kakà started his run from midfield and skipped past three tackles before entering the area and finishing with a low shot under the goal-keeper.

He wears the number 22 shirt for the club.