When newly crowned Champions of Europe AC Milan announced the signing of Brazilian prodigy Kaka from Sao Paulo in the summer of 2003, it was widely considered a signing for the future. Expectations were that the latest addition to Carlo Ancelotti’s star studded squad would be ‘loaned out’ in order to gain first team experience. After all, playing for one of Italy’s most reputable clubs and challenging for honours such as the Serie A title and the Champions League were deemed too demanding for a youngster with such inexperience. The club’s sporting director Ariedo Braida indicated this by stating “bringing him in now allows him the chance to have a calm and gradual introduction into the side because we have a squad of 26 and we are pretty well covered”.

Kaka had other ideas. Twelve months on and the precociously talented youngster has swept Serie A by storm, unquestionably establishing himself as one of the stars of both Italian and European football. As a key player in Milan’s Scudetto winning side, Kaka played 36 league games, scoring an astounding 13 goals from midfield. Italian football is notoriously difficult to make an instant impact in. Employment of the dependable ‘Catenaccio’ system and strict defensive acuteness with which teams are subsequently associated, has made it difficult for many of the world’s finest regarded footballers to come to terms with immediately upon their arrival in Serie A. Platini had a miserable first season in Italian football, as did Zidane. Kaka, equipped with his brand of naturally exuberant football looks like he has played there for the last decade. The young kid from Brasilia has taken the world’s most testing league by storm and was a strong candidate to be named the 2003/04 Season’s Serie A Footballer of the Year. His impact has been nothing short of phenomenal. His crucial goals and infectious performances in both the Italian Championship and the Champions League have become evermore paramount to Milan’s success. Although only 22, he has even been able to dislodge legends such as his superstar compatriot Rivaldo and £27 million record signing Manuel Rui Costa, in establishing himself as the Rossoneri’s chief playmaker.

Kaka was not subjected to the upbringing associated with that of Brazilian football stars. He came from a reasonably wealthy family and his raising was a far cry from the majority of poverty stricken Brazilian footballers, raised in the country’s ‘Favelas’. Born in the capital Brasilia, he was initially keen to develop a career as a professional tennis player before being persuaded to join the acclaimed ‘Rivelino Soccer School’. It was there that his prodigious talent was developed before being snapped up by Sao Paulo at the tender age of 11. He was put on a physique enhancing diet and it was not long before the name of ‘Caca’, as it was then spelt, became recognised within senior footballing circles. However in the September of 2000, Kaka suffered a potentially career threatening swimming pool accident. It was feared that the great hope would be left paralysed. Fortunately for him and for Brazilian football, he managed to overcome a badly fractured spine - something he puts down to intervention from God. Kaka’s family is deeply religious and because of his gratitude to God for saving him from paralysis, he has since donated 10% of his wages to the Church. He gives further indication of his indebtedness through his much practiced goal celebration – raising his open arms aloft and looking towards the sky in thanks.

Humble in mind he may be but the young Kaka’s footballing exploits were far from that in the Sao Paulo Youth sides. He had signed a professional contract with the Tricolor club at the age of 15 and repaid the faith shown in him by leading the Youth Side to ‘Copa de Juvenil’ glory in 1997 – the Brazilian equivalent of our FA Youth Cup. In Brazil it would be fair to say that fans pay more attention to emerging youth talent and all who had witnessed the tall, elegant midfielder were expectant of him being fast-tracked to the first team. When he did make his Sao Paulo debut in March 2001, not even the most optimistic of those admirers could have predicted what would have happened. It was the final of the prestigious Rio-Sao Paulo tournament – an event which pitches the strongest sides from within the country’s two biggest and most football-dominated cities. He entered the field as a second half replacement for Fabiano. Sao Paulo were trailing Botafogo 1-0 in the fabulous Morumbi Stadium. They were looking alarmingly short of ideas before the prodigy entered the field of play. Unfazed and uninhibited, Kaka made an unforgettable contribution. Not only did he equalize but he then grabbed a dramatic winner - all this in the space of five fairytale minutes for the debutant. It was a dream start and quickly affirmed him as a hero on the terraces.

After his heroics against Botafogo, he quickly became a key fixture in the Sao Paulo midfield. The club already had the makings of an excellent side and it was during the 2001 campaign they went closest to realising their potential. Kaka was in mesmeric form as Sao Paulo just missed out on adding the Brazilian Championship trophy to the Rio-Sao Paulo one they had won. Nevertheless the youngster had made a noteworthy impression and was by now the name on everyone’s lips. Named as Revelation of the Year, the then 20 year old was, despite his youth, attracting the interest of some of the bigger European clubs.

Calls were being made for him to be given his chance to shine with the national team. It was not until January of 2002 - with the World Cup Finals less than five months away - that Kaka was handed an international start. It was yet another dream come true for the Sao Paulo starlet who managed to score a debut goal in Brazil’s hammering of Iceland. However, when he wasn’t selected again before National Team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was due to name the squad who would board the plane for Asia, it was assumed he was not in the reckoning. Maybe Felipao only needed ninety minutes of convincing. Maybe his superlative form for Sao Paulo had proven to the coach that he was worthy of a place on the plane. Whatever it was – despite needing a deadline day fitness test – the name of Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite or Kaka was part of the final squad. He went to the World Cup as the youngest member of a hugely talented squad, just as the likes of Pele and Ronaldo had done previously. He was instantly made to feel part of the family as the Samba stars set about winning their fifth World Cup. Kaka managed seventeen minutes of action during the competition – all of them coming against Costa Rica in the second group game. His favoured playmaking berths were occupied by Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, meaning that Kaka could never be expectant of much action. Despite his lack of minutes on the field, the whole experience proved an overwhelming one, as Brazil defeated Germany in the final to win yet another world crown. Kaka – 20 years old and already a World Cup winner.

After returning from the biggest tournament in football, Kaka suffered an understandable dip in form.  Many blamed this on continual speculation linking him with a move to Europe, with Paris St.Germain and AC Milan touted as potential suitors. When he did rediscover his form, Sao Paulo subsequently began to enjoy a series of impressive results, leapfrogging their rivals to the summit of the Brazilian Championship. Kaka had well and truly overcome his post-World Cup hangover and was now in arguably the finest form of his career. However, with the calamitous structuring of the Brazilian Championship, Sao Paulo – despite finishing first in the league stage – were eliminated in their first playoff match against Santos (quarter final stages). The side which had led the league stages virtually from start to finish had been eliminated at the expense of the side that had finished eighth. Santos and their promising side had emerged with an aggregate 5-2 victory. The reigning Revelation of the Year had been outshone by Santos’ joint inheritors of his crown – Robinho and Diego. Sao Paulo’s inspirational number 8 was left devastated, although this devastation was in some way compensated for when he was named 2002 Brazilian Footballer of the Year.

2003 was to be the most significant year to date in the life of the young Kaka. It was the year in which he cemented his place in the national team, the year in which he signed a massive boot deal with Adidas and the year in which he departed Sao Paulo and penned his coveted signature with one of the World’s biggest clubs – the mighty A.C Milan. The sale of Brazilian soccer’s premier golden boy had been long since discussed. When it became apparent that Sao Paulo were to be in acceptance of his sale, largely due to the financial hardship of the club and in part due to the player’s own personal ambitions to play in Europe, Milan held the trump card as regards to acquiring his signature. Leonardo – the ex 1994 World Cup Winner who had played for both sides – was working for the Milanese giants. His strong links with his former Brazilian employees with whom he won the World Club Cup in 1992 – ironically they defeated Milan 2-1 in the final - made the transfer feasible. Additionally, Milan already had a strong contingent of Brazilians in their ranks with Dida, Serginho, Rivaldo and Cafu all contracted to the club. This was also an alluring factor. Even a late offer from mega-rich Premiership outfit Chelsea, although financially better for both player and club, was not enough to change the mind of Kaka. His heart was already in Northern Italy. On the 16th August 2003 Kaka signed a lucrative four year deal worth an estimated £2 million a year with AC Milan. Sao Paulo received £5.1 million for the sale of a player who totaled 146 appearances for them and scored a highly impressive 58 goals.

In continuation of the trend of emphatic debut showings, Kaka did not disappoint when he made his league bow for his new employees. Given a surprise start at the expense of Rivaldo, he turned in a man of the match performance as Milan won 2-0 away at Ancona. It was in game-week five that Kaka signalled his arrival as a major Serie A great to-be. The mouth-watering Milan derby, Inter vs AC. The San Siro was at full capacity to witness Kaka dominate proceedings. A novice he may have been but the Milan number 22 appeared every bit the master as he inspired AC to an emphatic 3-1 victory against their bitterest of rivals. Kaka was prominently Involved in the first goal and crowned his display by heading home the second. Throughout the 90 minutes in which he was on the pitch, he ran the Inter team ragged with a series of captivating runs from deep. His memorable derby display proved the perfect tonic for what proved to be an outstanding season for Kaka. Milan won the Serie A title at a canter, finishing eleven points clear of second placed Roma. Kaka was an instrumental figure in their success.

When Kaka reflects on his decision to join Milan, he can do so with an immense degree of content. Not only has he emerged as one of the most talented players in Italy but he has also affirmed himself as a regular in the Brazilian National Team. The elusive playmakers meteoric rise to superstardom has been nothing short of sensational. Perhaps more impressive than his exceptional talents with the football are his willingness to work, move and interact as part of the team. Flamboyance is a characteristic of Brazilian footballers but a large percentage of them are hugely individualistic. Having a player like Kaka who, despite his luxurious talents, bases emphasis on production and work-rate is indispensable. He has been predictably compared with countless legends but perhaps the most notable likeness is that of Michel Platini, a man who coincidently didn’t play for either Brazil or Milan but instead, for two of their prime adversaries in France and Juventus. The comparison is made largely due to his graceful presence on the field and artistic ability with the ball, coupled with his goal scoring exploits from deep. Kaka is immensely talented but significantly one of the most direct attacking midfielders on the planet. His exceptionally quick feet, sublime vision and incisive passing abilities make him the perfect playmaker. His intelligent movement and clinical finishing from both inside and outside the box make him the perfect goal scorer.

As for his name, it derives from his brother’s inability to pronounce Ricardo as a child. Its relevance depends on its different translations. In Brazil ‘Kaka’ has no meaning. In Italian it is an uncouth word for excrement. Universally the ‘Kaka’ is a breed of parrot native to New Zealand. With his glamorous array of skills there is no doubt that Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite is exclusively native to the flair-enriched country of Brazil. Whereas the exotic bird is renowned for being an incessant talker, Kaka has done his talking on the pitch - more conclusively and emphatically than any youngster has done for a very long time.