The Goal.com 50: Kaka (16)

Goal.com's countdown to the greatest player of 2008 continues with last year’s winner and Milan’s best player for some time. Kaka has had a poor year compared to the recent past, but the Brazilian star is on the rise once more.

07-Jan-2009 2:30:56 PM

Champions League: Kaka, Milan - Manchester United
50 - Ashley Young - Aston Villa, Premier League - Score: 1109
49 - Javier Zanetti - Internazionale, Serie A - Score: 1104
48 - Daniel Guiza - Fenerbahçe, Super Lig - Score: 1089
47 - Juninho Pernambucano - Olympique Lyonnais, Ligue 1 - Score: 1083
46 - Juan Román Riquelme - Boca Juniors, Argentine Apertura - Score: 1077
45 - Luca Toni - FC Bayern, Bundesliga - Score: 1064
44 - David Silva - Valencia, Primera Division - Score: 1060
42 (T) - Thierry Henry - Barcelona, Primera Division - Score: 1040
42 (T) - Daniel Alves - Sevilla, Primera Division / Barcelona, Primera Division - Score: 1040
41 - Antonio Cassano - Sampdoria, Serie A - Score: 1028
40 - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - Ajax Amsterdam, Eredivisie / Real Madrid, Primera Division - Score: 1027
39 - Ricardo Carvalho - Chelsea, Premier Division - Score: 1025
38 - Samuel Eto'o - Barcelona, Primera Division - Score: 1017
37 - Philipp Lahm - FC Bayern, Bundesliga - Score: 1009
36 - Javier Mascherano - Liverpool, Premier League - Score: 1008
35 - Julio Cesar - Internazionale, Serie A - Score 1000
34 - Robinho - Real Madrid, Primera Division / Manchester City, Premier League - Score: 970
33 - Diego - Werder Bremen, Bundesliga - Score: 955
32 - Carles Puyol - FC Barcelona, La Primera División - Score: 915
31 - Wesley Sneijder - Real Madrid, Primera Division - Score: 887
30 - Daniele De Rossi - Roma, Serie A - Score: 878
29 - Esteban Cambiasso - Internazionale, Serie A - Score: 877
28 - Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus, Serie A - Score 870
27 – Emmanuel Adebayor – Arsenal, Premier League – Score 862
26 - Nemanja Vidic - Manchester United, Premier League - Score: 829
25 - Ruud Van Nistelrooy - Real Madrid, Primera Division- Score: 827
24 - Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid, Primera Division - Score: 733
23 - Maicon Douglas Sisenando - Internazionale, Serie A - Score: 729
22 - Alessandro Del Piero - Juventus, Serie A - Score: 712
21 - John Terry - Chelsea, Premier League - Score: 705
20 - Frank Lampard - Chelsea, Premier League - Score: 668
19 - Marcos Senna - Villarreal, Primera Division - Score 636


16 - Kaka - Milan, Serie A - Score: 587

Many will argue that 16th place in our ranking is too far off the top spot for such a gifted footballer, but the fact is that this list takes into consideration the accomplishments, talent and ability shown in the year 2008, without adding previous awards and triumphs to the equation.

A Year To Forget

This past year was certainly not Ricardo Kaka's best by any means, with injuries affecting his form and restricting his playing time with the Rossoneri and Brazil. Knee troubles have plagued the former Golden Ball winner for the entire year, forcing him to be sidelined on numerous occasions in order to recover and rest. The 28-year-old underwent a knee operation in the summer, forcing him to recover and affecting his performances, as well as his confidence.

Despite the year 2008 presenting a player below his usually high standards, Kaka still remained one of the key components for Milan and can be considered one of their best five players for the past year. He ended the 2007/2008 season as their top scorer in Serie A with a respectable 15 goals, but those strikes were not enough to earn Milan qualification to the Champions League, the Rossoneri instead having to settle for fifth place and UEFA Cup action.

In the previous edition of the Champions League, Milan fell at the hurdle of the last 16 to Arsenal, with Kaka's influence restricted in both legs due to a fine marking performance from current team mate Mathieu Flamini, who significantly overshadowed the skillful speedster's contribution.

In terms of his contribution to the Brazilian national team, the year has been relatively positive. Kaka has scored four goals in six World Cup qualifying games for the Selecao, allowing them to reach second place in the standings behind Paraguay.

Although Kaka was named in this year's shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award, many pundits believe that he should not have been chosen in the top five alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Lionel Messi and Xavi, as there were other players more deserving of being in the illustrious company of these 2008 stars.

Recent Resurgence

The second half of 2008 has been a better one for the Brazilian star, and he has helped himself to seven goals and three assists from 14 games in Serie A this season, making him Milan's joint top scorer alongside compatriot Ronaldinho.

He has failed to find the net in Europe this season but his influence on the pitch has helped his team-mates to qualify for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. The no. 22 has shown glimpses of his fine talent in the last few months, but inconsistency has kept him from the heights that he scaled a year previously with the Rossoneri.

Verdict

The bottom line is that Kaka's efforts in 2008, though noble and impressive on their own, pales in comparison with 2007. That was the year when 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 in the world.

Team Prizes:

None

Individual Accolades:

Nominated in shortlist for FIFA World Player of the Year award

One of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People in 2008

Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com

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