Kaká Bio

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, better known to the world as Kaká, is without question one the very best players of his generation.

An attacking midfielder or playmaker, Kaká is blessed with speed, touch, technique, guile and physical strength, he has managed to combine his natural Brazilian flair with a tactical discipline to become an integral part of both the AC Milan and Brazilian national team

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As befitting a player of his exceptional talent Kaká has enjoyed considerable success in his career.

In 2007 he was named FIFA's World Player of the Year and awarded the prestigious Ballon d'Or along with a host of other personal accolades after helping Milan to win the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Club Cup.

Along with the achievements of 2007, Kaká also won the Serie A title and the Italian Super Cup with Milan in 2004.

On the international stage the Brazilian was part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup winning squad, won the 2005 Confederations Cup and skippered the side to a runners up place in the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Kaká's path to international renown began as an eight-year-old when he was spotted and signed by Sao Paulo. He progressed through the Brazilian club's ranks before making his professional debut in January 2001 aged 18 when he made an immediate impact hitting 12 goals in 27 appearances as the club won the Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo.

A year a later and Kaká had graduated to the Brazilian national team and was included in Luis Felipe Scolari's 2002 World Cup winning squad, this coupled with his continued scoring exploits with Sao Paulo resulted in interest of European clubs.

In parting with €8.5m to sign Kaká in 2003, AC Milan owner Silvo Berlusconi described the fee as "peanuts", and given the player's subsequent impact on the club it is hard to disagree.

Kaká's achievements and abilities are all the more impressive given that his career was almost over before it began when as an 18-year-old he suffered a fractured spine following an accident in a swimming pool.

In five years at the San Siro Kaká established himself as an integral part of a team boasting world class players in every position, not least his own attacking midfield role.
In February 2008 Kaká signed a contract extension with Milan tying him to the club until 2012. However, 11 months later the Brazilian was the subject of a £107m world record transfer bid from Manchester City.

Kaká turned down the chance to move to the Premier League, but speculation surrounding his future continued into the summer of 2009 when first Chelsea and then Real Madrid were linked with world record bids for his services.

Despite first insisting he wanted to remain in Milan, Kaká agreed a six-year deal with the Spanish giants in June 2009.