Goal.com 50: Kaka (33)

We now count down the top 50 players of 2008-09 and at number 33 is Brazilian star player and new Real Madrid signing Kaka…
No player list would be complete without mentioning the ever-present attacking influence of Brazilian midfielder Kaka. He has not had his best season, but his contribution to his former club side Milan has been undeniable, scoring 16 goals and providing nine assists in Serie A alone. He has been one of Milan’s best performers in a mediocre season for the Rossoneri.

Kaka had his fair share of injury problems once again this year, and the Brazilian’s form throughout the campaign fluctuated due in part to these concerns, but he was still able to become Milan’s top scorer in the league, while setting up a goal during his four UEFA Cup games with the Italian giants.

His influence on the pitch cannot be measured, but it was noticed that his team-mates were more confident in their own abilities when the Brazilian was present, allowing the side to lift their game, with Kaka taking on a leadership role throughout a season in which the Rossoneri were always chasing Inter in the Scudetto race.
He was unable to win any titles with Milan this season, but a third place finish in the league allowed the side to gain a UEFA Champions League place for the upcoming season.

He would probably be lower on our list had it not been for a fine Player of the Tournament display for Brazil at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa last month. Brazil won the competition, and Kaka was a big part of their success, scoring two goals and guiding the team to victories over Italy, USA and Egypt along the way. He was named Player of the Tournament, and should have had a goal in the final too, but the officials did not see that the ball had crossed Tim Howard’s line.

Along with his exploits in the Confederations Cup, the last year has been a successful one for Kaka and the national team. The 27-year-old played six World Cup qualifying games with the Selecao, scoring two important goals and helping the team to achieve top spot during the ongoing qualification campaign.
The bottom line, however, is that Kaka's efforts in 2009, though noble and impressive on their own, pale in comparison with 2007. That was the year in which the attacking player single-handedly destroyed Manchester United in the semi-final of the Champions League, going on to win the competition, and adding the European Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to his trophy cabinet, providing assists and goals as Milan became world champions and Kaka was recognised as the best on the planet.

Any subsequent ranking will take that year as the benchmark for Kaka’s high standards, and it will always be tough to match up to or surpass that incredible season.

Kaka moved down in our list compared to his previous ranking, which had the now Real Madrid player in 16th position, but his season has not been one of fantastic achievements and memorable performances, other than a few at the Confederations Cup. It will be interesting to see where Kaka will place on our chart next time around, after his first months in Madrid with los Merengues.

upa ce ieri la conferinta de presa a fost prezent Raul Gonzalez, astazi a fost randul unui alt veteran si capitan al madrilenilor sa vorbeasca in fata ziaristilor prezenti. Michel Salgado, unul dintre cei mai apreciati jucatori ai Realului a vorbit despre periaoda de pregatire premergatoare noului sezon, despre noile achizitii si l-a caracterizat pe superstarul lusitan Cristiano Ronaldo ca fiind “la fel ca un avion”: “E ca un avion va aduce multa verticalitate jocului nostru, este un fotbalist demn de top 10 fotbalului mondial si cred ca ne va ajuta foarte mult, pentru ca jucatori precum el au fost mereu foarte bine primiti aici. Suntem mandrii ca Ronaldo este coleg cu noi!” a spus fundasul dreapta madrilen.
Salgado a vorbit despre importanta noilor veniti dar si despre eventualele transferuri ale lui Franck Ribery si Xabi Alonso: “Ei vor aduce cu certitudine lucruri noi in jocul echipei, in mentalitatea colectiva iar cel mai important este ca din cate am observat gandim la fel, avem aceleasi prioritati. E foarte important acest aspect intr-o mare echipa. Nu poti sa nu te gandesti spre exemplu la finala Uefa Champions League, atunci cand ea se joaca pe Santiago Bernabeu. Nu stiu daca Ribery va ajunge la Madrid si e mai bine sa nu vorbesc despre acest subiect. Prefer sa vorbesc despre Cristiano pentru ca el este deja de-al nostru Cat despre Xabi nu pot decat sa spun ca e un mare jucator, ne poate ajuta mult la mijloc, prin echilibrul pe care il aduce, prin pasele sale exacte, lungi, prin calitatea si precizia sa. Este un om care duce o viata linistita, serios si care traieste prin si pentru fotbal, cred ca ar fi o lovitura aducerea sa, dar cum inca nu este aici e preferabil sa nu vorbim nici despre el prea mult”.