Kaka - Simply the best

Players Under The Microscope / Alsy / 06 December 2007 / 2

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Morgan in the driving seat - Allsy pays tribute to Kaka, the world's greatest player

If we needed any reminding that the heart of the beautiful game rests peacefully in Brazil, Kaká's recent election as FIFPro World Player of the Year offers a timely reminder. No one could dispute the talent of the 25-year-old Milan striker but is he really the best player in world?

A year ago Ronaldinho won the accolade and seemed untouchable while his primary sponsors, Nike, worked tirelessly to portray him superhuman. Fast forward 12 months and Ronaldinho's cape looks torn and his magical white Nike slippers appear more like Dunlop plimsolls. To many observers Frank Rijkaard believes Lionel Messi and Bojan Krkic can provide the consistent cutting-edge that the Brazilian currently lacks.

Milan's form in the Champions League remains impressive but they are currently 8th in Serie A and look far off the pace of their local rivals Internazionale. AC Milan is 18 points adrift of the leaders and hasn't won the title since 2003/04 so how can they boast the world's best player?

Milan is struggling domestically with an aging team and floundering in the international transfer market against Premiership and La Liga teams with deeper pockets and richer sugar daddies. Having said that, Milan remain European Champions while Kaka's form is the silver lining around the grey cloud of domestic form. You can currently back Milan [34] to win their first Serie A title in four years but don't be tempted by the huge price. Milan has plenty of talent but lack the legs to bridge such a huge points gap - even with Kaka.

A better option is backing Milan [14] to win the Champions League. This format suits Milan's style of play and the fact that they've reached two finals in the last three years proves that they know how to navigate their way past Europe's elite teams in a knock-out format.

Since Milan paid £4.25m for him in 2003, Kaka has been a revelation. He made the first team in a matter of weeks scoring 10 goals is his first season as an attacking midfielder behind Shevchenko. Of late Kaká's scoring prowess seems to increase as quickly Shevchenko's seems to diminish. Now an established figure at the heart of Milan's attack, Kaká can hurt defenses in various different ways. To my mind Drogba remains the best out-and-out striker in the world but you can argue that Kaká is even more dangerous.

Patrolling the area between the keeper's box and the edge of the centre circle Kaká is a nightmare for defenders to pick up. Blessed with explosive pace, midfielders cannot stay with his him when breaking from deep areas. When defenders attempt to stop him he's equally adept at playing in teammates or shooting with either foot and last year he bagged ten goals on the way to landing the Champions League Golden Boot.

Ronaldinho has bustling skill and stunning technique, Drogba is about awesome pace and power but Kaká seemingly glides past players. Sir Alex Ferguson is quick to extol the virtues of the gifted Ronaldo but the major difference is that on the biggest stages of all Kaká has consistently destroyed Europe's best teams - who could forget last year's semi-final performance at Old Trafford?

Brazil continues to produce the world's best players and soon enough they'll be another prodigy waiting to show us another imperious trick sending Europe's best teams scrambling for their wallets. In the meantime Kaká may not command as much billboard space as Beckham, Rooney or Ronaldinho but that has more to do with Adidas' marketing budget that his talent. Kaká will continue to set the pace where it matters most - on the pitch. What other player travels to other grounds and consistently scores the type of goals that prompt home fans to applaud his demolition work? They clearly realise they've witnessed a performance of a truly special player.

Have I got it completely wrong? Let me know which player you rate as the worlds' greatest?

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Smithy | 06 December 2007

Why is it that English based players never win this award? I thought we were supposed to have the best league in the world.

I would have put C.Ronaldo ahead of Kaka last season, closesly followed by Owen, Martins, Milner and Given ha ha.
Jamie Carl | 06 December 2007

Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka are the two best players in the world at the moment; difference between the two is that Kaka has already put in a handful of match-winning performances in MASSIVE matches and Ronaldo hasn't yet done this (for man Utd or Portugal). Other than that, I couldn't split them.