One year ago this week, Orlando City made one of the most historic signings in MLS history. Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite – Kaká – left Italian giant A.C. Milan to join a brand new expansion club in Orlando.
One of the most storied players in world football history, Kaká has won nearly every award and accolade that a player can win. The seemingly endless list of accomplishments is headlined by a FIFA World Cup title with Brazil in 2002, a UEFA Champions League crown in 2007, and the Ballon d’Or, given to the world’s top player, in the same year. Kaká made 85 appearances with Real Madrid and over 200 with A.C. Milan. His 2009 transfer from Milan to Madrid garnered over $90 million in transfer fees – the largest in the world to that point.
While enjoying a long career in Europe, Kaká always dreamed of playing in the U.S. MLS was the obvious choice and Orlando City offered the perfect destination.
Orlando City’s connection with Kaká began with his friendship with Lions’ owner Flavio Augusto da Silva. Silva hired his countryman to be the official spokesman for WiseUP, a chain of English-language schools he founded, and the two have built a strong friendship since then. Their relationship was a key factor in Kaká’s decision to sign with the Club.
Kaká’s signing generated unprecedented excitement in the United States. Never – save maybe only Pelé in 1975 – has a footballer created such a buzz in this country. When he arrived, Orlando International Airport was packed with fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the league’s biggest star and their new team’s captain.
“I can give something for the league, and for sure the league will give a lot of things to me. I think this period will be like this: I can give all my experience, name and everything I have already won in soccer, and I will learn a lot of things from the league. It’s a league that’s growing more than any other in the world,” Kaká said to the Orlando Sentinel before beginning preseason workouts with Orlando City.
Kaká’s arrival is yet another sign of the growth of MLS and the game itself in the U.S. With the addition of Orlando City and fellow expansion club NYCFC, MLS is up to 20 teams, with at least two more already on the books for the coming seasons.
In the Club’s inaugural game, Kaká’s stoppage time free kick against NYCFC sent over 62,000 purple clad fans into a frenzy. “Ricky”, as he’s known to his teammates, has started every MLS game for the Lions and registered nine goals and two assists in all competitions. Still, adjusting to MLS hasn’t been easy for him.
Early in the season, the team struggled to put teams away and consistently earn positive results. But rarely do expansion teams find success in their first season, let alone early on. As the season has progressed, though, the team has jelled into one cohesive unit, following the leadership of their captain.
“It’s a process with players. Suddenly I think we’re getting to know more about (Kaká), what he’s capable of and suddenly the chemistry within the group is getting a lot, lot better. They’re getting to know each other,” said head coach Adrian Heath after the Lions’ 1-0 victory over D.C. United on June 14.
That the team was beginning to learn to play together first showed in City’s dominant 4-0 performance over the Galaxy – the Club’s first MLS win at home. Kaká scored from the penalty spot and danced his way past several Galaxy defenders to set up Cyle Larin for the easy tap-in.
That win began a streak of five games undefeated for the Lions. It also began a streak of three straight games with a goal for the captain, and Kaká earned five points (four goals, one assist) during that five-game stretch.
“He’s very strong on the ball and so you have a player that demands attention from the other team,” said goalkeeper Tally Hall after the Lions’ 2-0 U.S. Open Cup victory over Columbus. “When he has the ball in our attacking half, teams aren’t able to maintain their shape. He draws too many players around him and you just can’t cover space defensively for the other team when he does that. It creates pockets for guys and you see combination play off of him. If you don’t want to send two defenders there then he’ll enjoy that as well. It’s really a win-win when he has the ball.”
As exciting as it is for fans to have Kaká on their team, it’s even more exciting for his teammates – perhaps for none more so than Pedro Ribeiro. The 25-year-old Brazilian grew up watching Kaká, just like everyone else in his country. To play with such a living legend has been a dream come true.
“I’ve always been a big fan and followed his career all the way from Sāo Paolo to Milan to Real Madrid and back to Brazil so for me it was a great opportunity. It just [feels] like a privilege to be able to play with someone like that.”
Kaká has proven to be every bit of the leader management hoped for when they brought him to the Club. His experiences have helped him teach a team largely comprised of young, inexperienced players how to be pros, both on and off the field.
“On and off the field he’s a great person. He’s a great human being and amazing player as we all know,” said Ribeiro. “He makes people look and play better around him. It’s definitely a privilege to have someone like him.”
