Chapter 81: Kaka's Song

Name: Kaka

Age: 19

Height: 1.83M (+0.01)

Weight: 69KG (+2)

Body Balance: 75 (+6)

Fitness: 88 (+5)

Reaction: 85

Agility: 88 (+2)

Speed: 92 (+1)

Strength: 85 (+6)

Jumping: 83

Dribbling Speed: 92 (+3)

Dribbling Skill: 84 (+3)

Short Pass Accuracy: 83 (+3)

Long Pass Accuracy: 76 (+2)

Shooting Technique: 80 (+3)

Free Kick Accuracy: 85 (+6)

Heading: 69 (+1)

Tackling: 58 (+3)

Goalkeeper Skill: 50

Teamwork: 73 (+8)

Time progressed to 2002, and Kaka had made tremendous progress. His physique appeared more muscular, and his muscles had developed noticeable definition, reflected in improved attributes such as strength, physical confrontation, and fitness.

What surprised him was his agility. According to online sources from his previous life, agility and muscle thickness were inversely proportional to some extent. A more muscular person would typically weigh more, and consequently, their agility would decrease.

The prime example was Cristiano Ronaldo. In his early years, he was incredibly agile, moving like a monkey, leading to the often-mocked claim that his prime would only last three years. However, after transitioning to a more muscular build, he appeared stiffer. The statement "Ronaldo can't dribble" likely stemmed from this observation.

"Goal Machine" became Ronaldo's most fitting nickname in his later years, as he was highly efficient like a machine but also cold and rigid. On the pitch, his movements appeared slower when attempting skills, and he mostly relied on his speed and explosiveness for dribbling, lacking the fluidity of his earlier years.

"Your weight is now 69.3KG, which is still relatively low for your height, and you seem to be growing taller, so you need to continue gaining weight. Your fitness and speed have improved, but you can still make a significant leap in fitness, so don't slack off," Dario said, handing Kaka his fresh body test results and taking a seat beside him.

Dario, a former boxer from Brazil, was Kaka's fitness coach, an imposing man standing at 1.9 meters tall. He was a good person and took his job seriously.

Kaka shared his concern with Dario: "I feel like I've become more agile, though."

"Of course," Dario looked at Kaka, perplexed. "Otherwise, our training would have been for nothing."

"But my weight and muscle mass have increased. Doesn't more muscle make the body stiffer? Well, my phrasing might not be accurate, but I think you understand what I mean."

"I get your point, but the reality is different from what you think," Dario shook his head. "While an increase in weight will inevitably lead to a decrease in agility, it's not an inverse relationship but rather a linear one. Let me put it this way – you know Mike Tyson, right?"

"Of course."

"Tyson was 1.8 meters tall and weighed around 220 pounds (100KG). He looked much bulkier than you. Who do you think would be more agile between the two of you?"

"...That makes sense, but I feel like we shouldn't compare individuals like that. People differ; some might be clumsy at 200 pounds, while others remain agile. If we're going to use examples, let's consider Bruce Lee. If he had Tyson's build, would he still be as agile?"

"...That's a hypothetical scenario that doesn't hold. Let me put it this way: your current weight and muscle mass haven't reached a level that would impact your agility. When you reach that threshold, I'll let you know, and you can decide how to proceed."

"Alright, you're the expert. I'll go with what you say."

Let me introduce the rest of the team members.

Landon, an American physiotherapist trained in Asia, was known for his mastery of various massage techniques, though his demeanor sometimes made Kaka uneasy. Nevertheless, Landon's skills were undeniable, and Kaka ultimately decided to keep him on board.

In contrast, Sophia, the yoga instructor, was a more pleasing presence, despite not being as angelic-looking as Kaka had hoped. Her physique, however, was devilishly attractive.

Sophia was already in a relationship with Dario, the fitness coach.

Mirno, the nutritionist from Brazil, prepared various nutritious meals that, while not exceptionally delicious, were more palatable and visually appealing than the club's offerings. As for his attempts at American cuisine... Kaka couldn't stomach them, preferring Landon's amateur cooking instead.

Daniel, the personal doctor from Germany, was proficient in sports medicine. Although his career was based in Brazil, he collaborated with many German medical institutions, making him more reliable than most club doctors in Brazil.

Along with the manager Silva, the team consisted of six members and was almost fully formed.

Kaka took pre-season preparations seriously, undergoing comprehensive medical and fitness tests before reporting back to his club.

This year's schedule was quite packed and diverse.

Due to the World Cup, all domestic competitions in Brazil would be suspended for a month. In previous seasons, the Sao Paulo State Championship would pause midway, but because of the congested schedule, many Sao Paulo teams withdrew from this year's competition, allowing it to potentially conclude by late April.

Aside from the Copa Libertadores, the Rio-Sao Paulo Tournament was the most significant event in the first half of the year. To avoid clashing with the World Cup, it would start early, meaning Sao Paulo would compete in three tournaments in the first half of the season.

Sao Paulo's squad underwent significant changes this season, with the most notable being the departure of Leonardo, who had only recently returned, to Flamengo.

Legendary players can be whimsical.

To compensate for the loss, Sao Paulo acquired midfielder Ricardinho from Corinthians.

He, along with Kaka, Baptista, and Aruuca, would form Sao Paulo's midfield for the season.

The Sao Paulo State Championship kicked off first, with Sao Paulo hosting Portuguesa at the Morumbi Stadium.

In Brazil, Kaka was no longer considered a newcomer. Within a year, he had become the undisputed star of Sao Paulo and one of the most popular players in the entire country.

Fans expressed their adoration by... writing songs for him.

The lyrics were quite dull, along the lines of "Kaka! Kaka! The amazing Kaka," but the melody was upbeat and cheerful.

Of course, the sentiment was what mattered most.

Nowadays, Kaka would take the field to the tune of the "Kaka Song" sung by fans during almost every home game.

It was impossible not to be moved.

Kaka's way of showing his gratitude was to perform at his best, lead the team to victory, and bring joy to the fans.

He did well.

In the first round of the Sao Paulo State Championship, Sao Paulo defeated Portuguesa 4-2, with Kaka scoring two goals and providing one assist in a brilliant performance to kick off the season.

In the first round of the Rio-Sao Paulo Tournament, Sao Paulo edged out Palmeiras 2-1, with Kaka netting the winning goal, continuing his impressive record in this competition.

In the first round of the Brazil Cup, Sao Paulo thrashed Baranã Atletico 4-0, with Kaka scoring a bizarrely curving free-kick that left the away fans speechless.

This was just the beginning. Throughout January, Sao Paulo remained undefeated, with Kaka contributing four goals and three assists in six appearances before missing the final two matches.

It seemed like he wanted to show the fans that their song was not sung in vain.

Kaka's reputation soared once again, and the calls for him to join the national team grew louder.

(End of chapter)