kaka., originally uploaded by milan_kaka.

Kaka's position as the whitest member of the team also reflects the fact that he is the most middle class. While Ronaldo gave up the chance to make it at Flamengo, Rio's biggest team, because he could not afford the bus fare, the young Kaka was not only driven to the Sao Paulo club, he was also a fully paid-up member of their sports and leisure centre.

Although almost all of Brazil's top players are black or mixed race and from the bottom of the social ladder, each generation usually throws up someone who is white and middle class: Tostao in the 1970 team, Socrates in 1982, and Rai and Leonardo in 1994. Like Kaka, the latter two emerged at Sao Paulo, which has a reputation as being the city's "aristocratic" club.

Yet Kaka's impeccable manners and dedication are not simply the result of going to private school. He is a devout, evangelical Christian and -- in what must be a first for a footballer at his level -- is proud that he was a virgin when he married in December last year. His wife, Caroline Celico, is the daughter of the woman who represents Dior in Brazil.

Kaka was born Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite in Brasilia, the son of a civil engineer. His nickname is a common Brazilian diminutive. The family moved to Sao Paulo when he was six and he started to use the leisure facilities at Sao Paulo, the club, when he was eight. At 12 he entered an open trial and was taken on at junior level.

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