Kaka on AC Milan, Liverpool comeback, man management and career inspiration

Kaka is one of the greatest footballers to ever grace the UEFA Champions League.

And he’s also now a Global Brand Ambassador for OPPO’s partnership with the UEFA Champions League.

The Brazilian was an integral part of some of the most memorable games and goals in Europe's elite competition throughout the years - namely the 2005 and 2007 finals.

With Kaka and the Champions League final set to return to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul this summer, OPPO looks forward to celebrating the crowning of a new inspiring European champion. 

Ahead of the 2023 UEFA Champions League final, 90min sat down with Kaka to discuss those finals, the incredible AC Milan he played in, the best manager he worked with during his illustrious career and his career inspiration:

On AC Milan

"I won individual awards because I was the protagonist in collective achievements. So I need to thank my teammates, the goalkeeper Dida, all the defenders, and everyone that participated in those achievements because I can't see how I could win individual awards without working as a team and winning as a group.

"[The team] was unbelievable. It was incredible. Dida, Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski, and on the right was Oddo. Then Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Seedorf, me, and Inzaghi."

On Liverpool comeback

"In 2005 we were so close to winning the Champions League. Beating a team like Liverpool 3-0 at half-time. The pass to Hernan Crespo [for his goal] is one of the best assists of my career.

"In my opinion [we had] one of the best defences in the history of football, but we conceded three goals in six minutes. That final is really unbelievable. It's unfortunate that we lost, but I participated in an amazing game.

“2005 is a really special moment. Of course it was a loss, but I still feel lucky to witness that miracle moment in my life, even if it's on the wrong side. And for me, it was a very good lesson that I took from that game. 

"The most important lesson for me from that game was that I couldn't control the result, all I could control was the process. So after that I started to be more professional, to be thinking more about the details, and then two years later I had the opportunity to be in the final again and win. I believe miracles are made when professionalism meets passion.”

On man management

"Carlo Ancelotti [is the most impactful coach on my career]. I had him for six years in Milan, and he's the coach under which I had the best performances as a player.

"I really like him because he can manage people in a very good way. To manage people, to manage players, to manage big names, he's just incredible. He's very human and, for me, this is the best thing that Carlo has.

On career inspiration

“My inspiration was Rai. He played for Sao Paulo and he played for the national team. He won the World Cup in 1994 for Brazil. 

“Rai was my idol when I was growing up in Sao Paulo and was watching the Sao Paulo teams play. I wanted to be like Rai.”

Inspired by Rai, Kaka began his career at Sao Paulo at the age of eight, before going on to become a European footballing legend. 

Discussing the attributes that made him such a great player, Kaka said: “I think I was very dynamic on the field. The best one however, was my ability to simplify the game.”

It was these attributes that led to Kaka’s incredibly successful spell at AC Milan - in which he won the UEFA Champions League and a Ballon d’Or - before the attacking midfield earned a mega money move to Real Madrid in 2009. 

When asked if joining Real Madrid was a career ambition, Kaka replied: “I thought that, if one day I had to leave AC Milan, I’d like to play for Real Madrid, and then in 2009 it happened.

“It was an unbelievable adventure. In four years in Madrid we won the league, the Copa del Rey and the super cup. It was an incredible four years.” 

Kaka is one of the most decorated players of his era at both the club and international level and one of renowned footballers to complete the four grand slams of individual honors. From the streets of Sao Paulo to a footballing legend, not many have achieved what Kaka has as a professional player. Behind all these miraculous achievements lie his consistent perseverance and belief in achieving excellence regardless of the challenges faced.

Kaka has witnessed many miracles during his illustrious career. As someone who is no stranger to miracles, Kaka believes that they don’t just happen but are made from precision, performance, perseverance, and expertise. 

Being OPPO Global Ambassador, Kaka also shared his understanding of OPPO’s brand concept and its global theme: 

“OPPO’s global theme “Expertise Inspires Trust” is very related to football. You need to excel in what you do. And the company’s spirit of ‘Inspiration Ahead’ is the same spirit that lies at the heart of every athlete’s ambition to achieve greatness in the face of adversity.” 

With Kaka joining the OPPO squad this year, the global technology brand will better bring this same passion and inspiration to the partnership with the UEFA Champions League and deepen its connection with fans around the world.

About OPPO

OPPO, a global smart technology company, is the first Chinese brand to partner with the UEFA Champions League. The company will work closely with UEFA for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, to bring more passion and inspiration to sports through its world-leading devices and technologies while helping fans witness, capture, and share the magic of football. Its latest OPPO Find N2 Flip, Official Smartphone of the UEFA Champions League, will also be displayed at OPPO’s booth of 2023 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul, Turkey.

Inspiration Ahead

OPPO’s brand proposition - Inspiration Ahead embodies the brand’s determination to encourage and inspire people who are working towards greatness. It demonstrates OPPO’s attitude towards the current state of the world and guides the company to bring real and positive change in people’s lives by providing professional, reliable and cutting-edge products and services. OPPO believe only expertise will help to win trust and a tech brand with know-how will definitely inspire people ahead.

For more information, please visit About OPPO