Debate: Is Kaka Back To His Best?

Two years ago Kaka was the best player in the world. While Cristiano Ronaldo was still not a superstar, Lionel Messi was still a prodigy- albeit one who was scoring the ‘Goal of the Century’- and Fabio Cannavaro was gradually slipping down the slippery ladder of form, Kaka was seemingly single-handedly charging AC Milan to the summit of Europe and leading them towards their seventh European Cup triumph.

And when he clashed head-to-head with the man who would replace him as the Ballon d'Or the following season, it was Kaka who would emerge as the better player as the Brazilian depressingly destroyed Manchester United in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2006-2007.

Since then, though, Kaka has been under par. Apparently. Injuries and modest-at-times form have contrived against him and this has seen the likes of Ronaldo, Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and even Iker Casillas (a goalkeeper!) garner more acknowledgement than him. Milan's disastrous Serie A campaign in 2007-2008 didn't help his cause and last season's injuries appeared to imply that Kaka was suffering. And suffering badly.

When Real Madrid announced the signing of the 27-year-old for just over €67 million earlier this month a few were (weirdly) whispering that Florentino Perez was going for the wrong man. True, Kaka has been on Madrid's radar since the 2006 World Cup finals and his arrival was going to show the world that Madrid are the biggest club on the planet and not a "mob", but there was a feeling that he was past his best, that his prime days had been arrested way back in 2007 when he was un-arguably the finest and most effective footballer on the planet, yes, even better than Ronaldinho that year.

But Kaka's scintillating performance in the Confederations Cup has made a mockery of suggestions that Kaka is a deadwood. The Brazilian international was the best player for his nation along with Inter Milan rightback Maicon in the 8-team competition and as always was at the heart of Brazil's dramatic comeback against the USA in the final on Sunday. Kaka combined with Maicon and ripped apart an often 9-man American defence and was the best creative midfielder on the pitch. By a country mile.

If Egypt’s Mohamed Abou Treika had marginally overshadowed him in their first match of the Confederations Cup and Robinho had outshone him against Italy, then Kaka was the best against the USA in the final. The man who remained a virgin until his marriage was Brazil’s ticket to redemption against African champions Egypt and was the best player in a yellow shirt; he was consistent throughout the tournament and although Maicon and Robinho were better than him against Italy, Kaka still played a crucial role in Marcello Lippi’s side’s wholesome destruction.

In the final it was Kaka who was at the centre of Brazil’s revival. He might have been initially subdued by a superbly organized American side that had gone 2-0 up inside the first 30 minutes but he emerged almost like a phoenix from the ashes to conquer hearts and the USA. Playing with his usual nifty, nimble, un-flashy and un-audacious but hugely effective style, Kaka exhibited the God-gifted pruned intelligence as he combined superbly with Maicon, who reaffirmed his status as arguably the best right-back on the planet.

Kaka gave the assist for Luis Fabiano’s equalizer, took ambitious long shots and was everywhere. Kaka knew when to dribble past the US defence and when to thread in a pass; his vision to mark out Luis Fabiano and Robinho was exquisite. He would often drop deep to collect the ball, pass the ball around swiftly and accurately and would often run forth to collect it. So much so that at times when the US’s rather 'heavy' defensive approach in the second half would attempt to stifle Brazil’s creative footwork and visionary football, it would be Kaka aided in parts by Maicon and Felipe Melo and of course Luis Fabiano who would unlock the American backline.

So is Kaka back from his two years of wilderness? Yes he is, and frankly he was never away in the first place. Kaka was still one of the best in the world in 2007-2008, a fact reflected in him being nominated for the FIFA Player of the Year award in 2008- he would go onto finish fourth- and while last season Milan endured a pretty much disappointing campaign and Kaka endured injuries, it would be the Brazilian who would score vital goals for the Rossoneri and along with his compatriot Alexandre Pato would lead them to Champions League salvation.

Against the USA in the final on Sunday Kaka played with his old elegance that assumed an almost Zinedine Zidane-esque grace that must have certainly pleased Real Madrid. While everyone agrees that Cristiano Ronaldo would be a mega-hit at the Bernabeu, there are one or two doubts on Kaka. But if the Confederations Cup did anything, then it proved that Kaka still remains one of the best playmakers in the world.

And a Real Madrid material.

Subhankar Mondal