Orlando City’s Kaká says he’s proud of the way the Lions fought back this season.
Brazilian star says he is happy, feels at home in Orlando
Orlando City midfielder Kaká spent most of the last two weeks in his native Brazil with the national team when he realized something that surprised him. “I missed it here a lot,” Kaká said of his new home in the U.S. The Brazilian star’s first season in MLS will likely come to an end on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia, barring a miracle for the Lions, who need to close an eight-goal gap in goal differential to qualify for the postseason.
The end of the season will mark the close of the first chapter in the latest stanza of Kaká’s career. The soccer portion has been on display for so many to see, but Kaká has enjoyed the off-field changes as well, trying to soak up as much as he can away from the field in his new life in Orlando.
“Every country that I lived, I saw a lot of Brazilian players or foreign players going to another country and trying to change another country into their country,” Kaká said in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday. “I never wanted to do that. When I went to Italy I tried to live as an Italian; Spain, the same; and here,
the same. I’ve tried to live as an American. I’m enjoying [watching] the NBA. To go to a UCF [football] game two weeks ago, to see the Orlando Magic play, the American sports and the American way of life. So it’s been a very good experience for me. I’m very happy.”
Through his first year with Orlando City, Kaká has provided much of what the franchise hoped when he signed a 3.5-year contract with MLS.
He has increased the visibility of Orlando City worldwide. He added immediate cachet to one of the league’s newest franchises, including an MVP performance in the AllStar game and a recent callup to the Seleção for World Cup qualifying. He was, at times this season, the playmaker who could lift his team to a win, scoring nine goals with seven assists in 27 games played.
Kaká said his first year has been as satisfying as he hoped it would be when he decided to optout of his contract with Italian power AC Milan to join the Lions.
“Yes, I’m happy with my year because I tried everything that I could,” he said. “I tried to be the best professional here to show these guys, most of them [are] young players, that I’m not here just to end my career, that I’m not here just for a vacation, that I’m here to play and grow with this team, with this league. And to be back with the national team was a big sign for me and for them, as well, because [it] shows them I still can play at a high level, and I choose to play here with them because I have a very good purpose for that.”
The season was by no means perfect. Kaká missed seven games due to injury, call-ups or disciplinary suspensions. He went stretches without producing or having a major impact on the game, ebbs and flows that often matched his team’s form.
The responsibility does not lie solely with Kaká, however.
He was the central figure in a team that lost starting right winger Kevin Molino to an ACL tear in early May and also dealt with injuries to starters such as Brek Shea, Tally Hall and Aurélien Collin. In addition, Orlando City leaned heavily on players aged 21 or younger — Carlos Rivas, Cyle Larin, Rafael Ramos and Cristian Higuita all played more than 1,200 minutes this year.
Kaká may not have been able to carry the team for all 34 games, but he said he felt a responsibility to try to set the tone for those younger players.
“It’s different to work with them, but it’s very good because it’s different,” Kaká said. “… [I try to] teach these guys a lot of things that I have learned in soccer. It’s a different moment for me in my career, it’s a moment to lead, to teach, to be the experienced guy for them. It’s good. I’m enjoying this phase of my career, as well.”
Kaká has become more educated about MLS. He said he knows now what to expect from certain teams — the style they play, the top players and the atmosphere at the different stadiums. He also has a better understanding for the parity within the league and that little separates the top teams from the bottom, something that isn’t universal in soccer around the world.
Asked if next season he hopes to increase his individual production or if he compares himself to players like Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco, who is the likely MLS Most Valuable Player with 22 goals and 15 assists, Kaká shook his head no.
“My goal is on the team, because I think the individual [and team] things come together,” Kaká said. “If the team plays good, I’ll play good. It’s not if I play good, the team is going to play good. I think the team is 11 players on the field, so if they help me, I can help them as well. I don’t pretend [I will] score more goals than Giovinco. He’s played a very good season, it’s amazing, he’s scored a lot of good goals, probably one of the best players this year. ... We have to see where Toronto is going to reach, but probably he is the MVP of the league.
“My goal for next season is to arrive at the playoffs with this team and fight for the title. And as an individual, still playing for the national team. I’ll score as many goals as I can because it will help the team, but most important for me is the group.”
Kaká’s reintroduction to the Brazilian team seems to have ignited something in him.
The 33-year-old was invited back this fall first for a set of friendlies in the U.S., and then again for World Cup qualifiers. The latter call-up was a sign that Kaká remains very much in the picture for Brazil coach Dunga.
Staying on the team has become a massive motivation for Orlando City’s captain.
“Going back to the national team was amazing for me, because I could show for everybody that this league is very good,” Kaká said. “I can play here and I can play for one of the best national teams in the world. … I’m the experienced guy now. The same thing I can do here, I can do for the national team. And also for me, it’s good to be motivated. I don’t want to be just the guy in the national team to teach the guys or to help them to grow. I want to go there to play and be effective on the field. I’ll keep fighting to have my place on the team. If Dunga thinks I can stay and play, I’ll fight for that.”
With the offseason just ahead, Kaká said he does not anticipate a loan to São Paulo or another club like last winter. He plans to go back to Brazil to spend some time with his children before returning to the U.S.
It’s his home now, after all.
“I’m very happy [with] the decision that I made,” Kaká said. “Because everything that I thought is coming true.”