Ecuador holds Brazil to 1-1 draw
Neymar, defender Thiago Silva and striker Gabriel Jesus didn’t play against Ecuador at the Olimpico Stadium in Goiania.
The iconic Brazilian footballer called time on a glittering career that was marred by niggling injuries.
Kaka, the last player to win the Ballon d’Or before Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi began their decade-long dominance, hung up his boots on Sunday and his former Brazil teammate David Luiz posted an video on Instagram to pay tribute to the iconic midfielder.
Part of the legendary Brazil squad that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Kaka starred in the Canarinho’s triumphs at the 2005 and 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup as well.
At his peak, a free-flowing attacking midfielder capable of wrecking teams at will with his powerful running, incisive passing and top-notch finishing, the 35-year-old began his senior career at Brazilian side Sao Paulo where he caught the eye of European giants AC Milan.
At the Rossoneri, Kaka was virtually unstoppable and enjoyed the best period of his career during his six seasons with the Italian side.
Winning the Serie A in his debut season (2003-04) was remarkable, but the 2006-07 season was when he endeared himself to the Milan faithful as he led them to their seventh UEFA Champions League title.
That European triumph enabled him to pip Messi and Ronaldo to the the prestigious ‘Golden Ball’ and for a brief but glorious period, he was regarded as the finest footballer on the planet.
A world-record move to Real Madrid followed in 2009, but the Brazilian never quite hit the heights in the Spanish capital as he did in Milan and he returned to the San Siro after just four seasons in Spain.
While his second stint in Milan was not as fruitful as the first, most of that can be attributed to the fact that the Rossoneri were undergoing a transition period and Kaka soon went back to Brazil to play for his boyhood club Sao Paolo before rediscovering his spark with Major League soccer side Orlando City.
For Brazil, he amassed 92 caps and while he narrowly missed out on playing a major tournament for the international side in recent years, notably missing out on the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America tournaments, he is regarded as a legend in his home country as well.
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