Kaka 2007

a big fan. In September he told Wor ld Soccer that if Kaka did not win the Ballon d’Or, he would chain himself to the railings outside the offices of France Football in protest. He also revealed that, such is Kaka’s talent, he leaves him to decide for himself where and how to play. “He handles the situations himself,” Ancelotti said. “He decides whether to move forward or back 10 metres. He follows his instinct, and that is just fine by me.”

Kaka has looked like the real thing right from his arrival in Italy in the summer of 2003. Serie A is not an easy league for foreigners to adjust to. The tactical rigour and defensive discipline can smother the talent of even the most creative midfielders. But Kaka’s start was so explosive that it effectively spelled the end at Milan for compatriot playmaker Rivaldo and demoted Portuguese star Rui Costa to second choice.

With other players, this situation could have led to embarrassing public rows, but Rivaldo commented: “This guy is a phenomenon. How could I be jealous of him? I advised the club to buy him.”

the Brazilian with an offer of higher wages, though Kaka had appeared happy to stay true to the original Milan timeframe. Throughout this autumn in the face of siren calls from Real Madrid, Kaka has remained remarkably focused on Milan. “I’ve always said I wanted to become a key player for this club,” he said. “Now, I feel I am a more mature player, and that’s one reason why I score more goals. Now, I would like to be the captain of Milan.” Can the Milan fans believe such sweetsounding words, or was Kaka merely being diplomatic? With any other player, a pinch of salt would be called for. With Kaka, it might well be true. After all, he just does not fit the footballer stereotype. Apart from his openness about his religious faith, there is his background. Kaka, the son of an engineer father and a maths teacher mother, is one Brazilian superstar who does not fit into the clichéd role of “poor boy from the favelas”. Certainly for the time being, it would seem Kaka has decided Milan is the place to be, having grown into his role at the club both literally – he is three centimetres “This guy is a phenomenon. How could I be jealous of him?”

Rivaldo pays tribute to Kaka after losing his place at Milan to him

Rather than being intimidated by lining up alongside such players as Shevchenko, Inzaghi, Pirlo, Seedorf, Nesta and Maldini, Kaka immediately gave the impression of having played with them all his life. The same could be said of Brazil, when the youngster looked completely and instantly at ease alongside Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Emerson et al.

Kaka’s relationship with Milan began in the summer of 2001, when Leonardo, the former Milan and Brazil midfielder, was sent to check him out at Sao Paulo.

This impressed the youngster, whom Leonardo took aside to explain that Milan were “serious” about him, even though the projected transfer date was 2004. In the end, Milan signed him up a year early for £6.3 million, with Chelsea sniffing around taller and five kilos heavier than when he arrived – and metaphorically.

And why not? He was the clear winner in our 26th annual poll, with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi second and Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United third. Kaka garnered 52.8 per cent of your votes, making him only the second player in the history of the award, after Michel Platini back in 1984, to receive more than half the votes cast.

Kaka’s victory was also confirmation of the pre-eminent status of the UEFA Champions League in the world game. The Brazilian declined to play in the year’s major international tournament, the Copa America, yet his outstanding contribution to Milan as they became European champions for the seventh time made him the popular choice.

Sir Alex Ferguson won the Manager award for a record third time after steering Manchester United to the English title for the first time in four years, while Iraq’s extraordinary journey from war-torn also-rans to continental champions with victory at the Asian Cup earned them the Team award, the first time it has gone to an Asian side.

Messi picked up the Young Player award for the second year running, with Arsenal and Spain star Cesc Fabregas the runner-up and Cristiano Ronaldo third – the same trio as last year. Paddy Agnew

Top 10 Players of 2007

Player Club

Country % of vote 1) Kaka Milan Brazil 52.8 2) Lionel Messi Barcelona Argentina 17.6 3) Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Portugal 16 4) Didier Drogba Chelsea Ivory Coast 4.4 5) Juan Roman Riquelme Villarreal/BocaJuniors Argentina 1.2 6) Cesc Fabregas Arsenal Spain 0.8 7) Francesco Totti Roma Italy 0.7 8) Zlatan Ibrahimovic Internazionale Sweden 0.6 9) Ruud van Nistelrooy Real Madrid Netherlands 0.5 10) Ronaldinho Barcelona Brazil 0.4

Ushering in a new era…Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Lionel Messi

Other World Soccer Award winners 2007

Asian champions…Iraq

TEAM OF THE YEAR: Iraq

Premier League title number nine…Fergie

MANAGER OF THE YEAR: ER OF THE YEAR: Alex Ferguson, Manchester United YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lionel Messi, Barcelona & Argentina