World champion with Brazil, Kaká turns 42

This Monday (22), the football world celebrates the birthday of one of the most iconic figures in the sport: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, better known as Kaká. The former midfielder, a five-time world champion with the Brazilian national team at the 2002 World Cup, turns 42 years old.

Born in 1982 in the city of Gama, in the Federal District, Kaká began his career at São Paulo FC, where he quickly stood out. His performance quickly caught attention, resulting in his professional debut in 2001 and his first call-up to the Brazilian U-20 national team.

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Throughout his career, Kaká accumulated major titles with the national team. In 88 matches, the midfielder scored 28 goals. In addition, he secured the 2002 World Cup and the Confederations Cup (2005 and 2009). His time at Milan in Italy was marked by winning the Ballon d’Or in 2007. With the Italian club, he lifted trophies such as the Italian Championship, the Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

In 2009, Kaká embarked on a new journey by signing with Real Madrid, where he added more titles to his resume, including the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Championship.

After his time in Spain, he briefly returned to Milan before starting a new phase of his career at Orlando City in the United States, and ended his journey as a professional player in 2017.

However, even after retiring from the field, Kaká remained close to the sport he loves so much. He invested in his academic education, specializing in sports management, and obtained the CBF Academy’s A license, preparing for a possible career as a coach.