He was the man who epitomized Brazil’s love affair with “Joga Bonito” – the beautiful game.
A touch to die for and possessing a lazer-like vision that only the greatest players are blessed with, Kaka sauntered his way through football matches, bringing light where others would only bring darkness.
Right now Brazil’s Sele??o is in its own dark place, having been dumped out of the Copa America almost a year after its World Cup dream was ripped apart.
“Brazil is struggling,” Kaka told CNN, pinpointing the nation’s domestic league as one of the symptoms behind the team’s problems as it attempts to re-establish itself as one of the world’s football superpowers.
In 2014, according to FIFA, Brazil was the most active country in the international transfer market, with 646 incoming moves and 689 outgoing deals.
But those high levels of player import and export bring problems.
“The players in the national team are playing in Europe,” said Kaka, referring to the likes of Barcelona’s Dani Alves and Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool. “What I’m worried about is Brazilian football because it’s a little bit mad there.
“There’s no organization, nobody dealing with the future,” added the Brazilian, who is now playing in Major League Soccer with Orlando City. “They’re only thinking about the immediate future or the next month.”
Domestic game suffering
Now 33, Kaka was part of the Brazil side which won the World Cup in Japan and Korea 13 years ago – but rarely since has the team looked like repeating the feat.
Brazil’s humiliating exit from its own tournament at the hands of eventual champion Germany sent shockwaves not just around the country but around the world.
The 7-1 semifinal drubbing stunned this football obsessed nation and left the dream of avenging the ghosts of 1950 in tatters.
It also brought into question Brazil’s ability to develop new players and organize a competitive league system.
With the most talented players leaving for Europe as soon as they can, the domestic game is suffering – stadiums are half empty, ticket prices are high and there is concern over violence at matches.
“I’m worried about that because if you look at the Brazilian championship, it’s not the same anymore,” added Kaka, who was voted the best player in the world in 2007.
“We have to solve the problems because all the other countries are improving with new ideas and methods.”
Kaka may no longer feature on a regular basis for the national team but he remains a fervent and passionate supporter.
From his home in Orlando, where he currently resides with his wife and two children, he watched on as Brazil’s Copa America campaign came to a shuddering halt.
“I’m still a fan,” he said. “But we have problems we need to solve.”
A new cycle
After the painful experience of last year, Brazil dispensed with the services of Luiz Felipe Scolari – the man who had guided the team to victory in 2002 – and brought back former coach Dunga.
A World Cup winning captain, Dunga presided over 60 matches as coach of the national team between 2006 and 2010, winning 42, drawing 12 and losing six.
But it was his side’s exit at the quarterfinal stage of the 2010 World Cup which proved his undoing along with a style of play which was perceived as dour and negative.
As a player Dunga was a rugged defensive midfielder and it was as if Brazil had been reincarnated in the style of their former captain.
True, since returning, Brazil’s results have improved and before the penalty shootout defeat by Paraguay, Dunga’s side had gone eight matches unbeaten.
But the Paraguay setback also highlighted Brazil’s shortcomings – in the first half Dunga’s side entered the Paraguay penalty box just once.
“It’s a new cycle for Brazil,” said Kaka, looking ahead to the need to prepare for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as he backed Dunga.
“We’ve got a few problems but I’m sure we’ll be solve them and get the team ready for the next World Cup.
“Dunga is doing a good job and has new players coming in. It’s time to think about the future.”