Chapter 80: Rising Star

On February 1, 2001, Kaká officially made his professional debut. Although it has been only half a year since then, he has already experienced various competitions like the Rio-São Paulo Cup, São Paulo State Championship, Brazil Cup, FIFA World Youth Championship, and the Brazilian Championship.

Apart from his early exit from the Brazil Cup, he won the championship in all other tournaments. Despite being named the Best Young Player in the São Paulo State Championship and the Best Player in the World Youth Championship, he rarely broke any records in his early professional career like legendary players. However, Kaká undoubtedly emerged as the most watched rising superstar due to his impressive performances in almost every final, playing a crucial role in his team's victories.

Life couldn't always be smooth sailing, and Kaká was well-prepared for potential setbacks. When expected and unexpected challenges arose, he faced them with a calm and optimistic attitude.

In the third round of the Brazilian Championship, Kaká scored a free-kick against Vitória, opening his goal-scoring account in the league. However, this goal couldn't secure a win for his team, and São Paulo failed to win in the first three rounds.

In the fourth round, Kaká started the match and scored on a rebound after the opposition goalkeeper fumbled, helping São Paulo secure their first league victory.

In the fifth round, Kaká and Fabiano started as the striking duo. Kaká scored with a overhead kick from a corner, leaving spectators in awe as it was the second time he scored in this manner.

Until the tenth round, Kaká's performance remained remarkably consistent and efficient, scoring seven goals in eight matches and briefly leading the top scorers' chart. However, from the eleventh round onwards, he unexpectedly hit a goal drought, failing to score in five consecutive matches and only contributing two assists. São Paulo's position in the league table also fluctuated, and they temporarily fell out of the qualification zone.

The most significant defeat came against Botafogo, where Kaká failed to maintain his reputation as their nemesis. São Paulo's young players were lost in the mist at the Maracanã Stadium, suffering a humiliating 1-7 defeat, the worst in the club's history. Kaká, Fabiano, and Baptista, who had become the team's most important players, were etched into the club's history of shame. It was the first time Kaká witnessed the cruelty of professional sports.

Misfortunes never come alone. Kaká suffered his first major injury in his professional career during the last match in October. After being fouled by an opponent, he attempted to continue playing twice but eventually had to be stretchered off the field.

This injury kept Kaká away from the pitch for a month. He traveled to Germany for a comprehensive medical evaluation and developed a strict training plan and professional development strategy with his personal team's support.

He would never forget that injuries were his greatest enemy, and even though they couldn't be entirely avoided, he would make every effort to prevent them.

After returning from injury, Kaká staged a magnificent comeback, contributing three assists and two goals in three matches to help his team progress. In the final, he once again played a pivotal role, scoring a hat-trick in his professional career to lead São Paulo to the championship (Brazilian Championship for the "Big Four" titles).

Kaká scored 18 goals and provided eight assists in the season, earning him a place in the league's best XI and the second position in the Best Player award voting. Unsurprisingly, he was named the Best Young Player, adding 20 more honor points (15 for the championship and 5 for Best Young Player) to his personal account.

Notably, the eventual Best Player award went to the 35-year-old veteran Romario, whose career total goals exceeded 1,000. The lone wolf dominated the top scorers' chart with 21 league goals, showcasing his still formidable attacking prowess.

Under the leadership of Kaká, Fabiano, Baptista, and others, São Paulo won four championships that year, with Kaká and Baptista securing five titles, making them highly celebrated figures.

As the Brazilian Championship concluded, 2001 also came to an end.

For many, the first year of the new century may have had special memories like 9/11, but there wasn't much worth reminiscing about – at most, it would evoke occasional reflections or smiles in the future. However, for Kaká, this year held immense significance.

It was his first complete year since his arrival, slightly flawed but undeniably illustrious. He not only completed his identity transformation but also witnessed and experienced a new set of memories.

This was the year when 9.8 seconds in the 100m, 81 points in a single game, 35 seconds for 13 points, 9 minutes for 5 goals, and 50 goals in a top league season seemed like jokes, the lamest kind.

This was the year when Manchester United's Class of '92 stood atop Europe, writing an immortal youth academy legend, and the Golden Generation of '76 had gathered at the center stage, heralding the most prosperous era in world football at the turn of the century.

This was the year when the center of the football world was still on the Apennine Peninsula, with no one anticipating that these were the last few years of revelry before the small World Cup.

This was the year when people associated the number 7 with Raul, Figo, Beckham, and Shevchenko, and the number 10 with Zidane, Rivaldo, Roberto Baggio, and Francesco Totti.

This was the year when Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were still leveling up, with no one imagining that merely seven or eight years later, the football world would undergo a generational shift because of them. People would primarily think of Cristiano Ronaldo when mentioning the number 7 and only Messi when referring to the number 10. The football world would enter an unprecedented new era, with a name as captivating.

This was the year representing the best era of football, boasting the finest batch of players. Most traditional powerhouses' so-called golden generations were gradually taking shape around this time, with stars shining brilliantly.

This year was about to pass, and a new year, representing a new era, was about to arrive. It needed a new king, with major clubs placing their bets, hoping to recruit the next era's trendsetter into their ranks.

Only Kaká knew that the winner of the first half of football was a buck-toothed Brazilian, while the second half belonged to those two individuals, and he merely shone briefly in between, like a shooting star illuminating many people's youth and painful memories.

Last time, you won. This time... why couldn't it be me?

(End of Chapter)

Before joining Milan, Kaka's achievements were not widely recognized. In 2001, he won the Rio-São Paulo State Championship, but all other events saw him eliminated. The following year, in 2002, he clinched the Sao Paulo State First Division Championship, with no other notable honors. Then, in 2003, he triumphed in the World Cup, but his club had no significant achievements. It was in August of that year that he made his move to Milan, where only one fan greeted him at the airport. This highlights that Kaka's career, beyond his successful years at Milan and Real Madrid, was not always filled with glory.

As sports become increasingly marginalized, football stands out as a solitary pursuit. If you find yourself drawn to it, consider lending your support, much like this.