While Kaka was suffering and enjoying himself under spotlights and piles of euros, an eighteen-year-old Lionel Messi was making his own name at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
In the final in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Messi led Argentina to a 2-1 victory over Nigeria and lifted the trophy.
He scored both of Argentina’s goals from the penalty spot.
By the end of the tournament, Messi had six goals, enough to win the Golden Shoe, and he was also named the competition’s best player, taking home the Golden Ball.
Messi was already beginning to shine with his own brilliance, Cristiano Ronaldo was also hitting his stride at Manchester United, and Kaka was lying on a large bed taking stock of his system points.
They all had a bright future.
…
Kaka’s commercial schedule lasted an entire week.
During these past few days, he shot commercials and took on endorsements, practically racing against time.
By the time the final advertisement was finished, Kaka immediately called his father to confirm one thing.
“That’s really it, right?”
Once he received a definite answer, he didn’t waste another second.
He booked tickets to Hawaii and took his parents with him for a proper family holiday.
If you had money but refused to enjoy any of it, then what was the point?
At that stage, it was just colourful paper sitting in an account.
While the Leite family enjoyed themselves in Hawaii, the atmosphere inside AC Milan’s management offices was much less relaxing.
In fact, they were starting to panic.
What exactly was Kaka’s standing at Milan in 2005?
His salary told part of the story.
The highest-paid player in the squad was Shevchenko, earning around €6 million a year.
Kaka, meanwhile, earned roughly €3.5 million.
Among the other senior stars, Maldini was on about €5 million, Pirlo around €4.5 million, Inzaghi €3.5 million, and Crespo about €3 million.
In other words, Kaka sat somewhere around the middle of Milan’s wage structure.
Before the end of the season, the club had considered that perfectly reasonable.
During the 2004-05 campaign, Kaka had made around fifty appearances in all competitions, contributing roughly ten goals and close to twenty assists.
In Serie A, he had produced solid numbers.
In the Champions League, he had also been an important creator.
Those were excellent figures for an attacking midfielder at a top club.
But compared with Shevchenko, the undisputed spearhead of the attack, or Maldini, the foundation of the defence, Milan’s management still didn’t consider Kaka’s contribution dominant enough to justify the very highest salary bracket.
So before the season ended, they believed his existing wages were more or less appropriate.
Then came the Champions League Final.
One priceless extra-time strike from Kaka sent Milan to the top of Europe.
His standing among the supporters exploded almost overnight.
Even then, however, the club’s management only thought a new contract might raise him into the €4 million to €4.5 million range.
They still didn’t believe he belonged among the very highest earners.
Then the Confederations Cup happened.
Five matches later, Milan’s executives suddenly realised something terrifying.
If they didn’t move quickly, they might lose him.
God only knew what had happened.
Half a month earlier, Kaka’s game had still revolved around playmaking and those devastating long-distance surges through midfield.
Then, at the Confederations Cup, he suddenly transformed into a dribbling maniac who seemed addicted to beating defenders.
Five matches.
Eighteen direct goal contributions.
Completely absurd!
If the club hadn’t watched Kaka run himself into the ground throughout the league campaign and the Champions League Final, Milan’s management might honestly have wondered whether he’d been hiding half his ability on purpose.
They were so confused that, once the tournament ended, they even called Ancelotti in for a meeting.
The question was simple.
Did Kaka have some problem with the club?
Had he been unhappy?
Had he deliberately held something back during the season?
Because otherwise…
How the fuck does a player suddenly unveil that level of close-control dribbling out of nowhere?
Ancelotti’s answer wasn’t particularly helpful.
He was just as baffled as everyone else.
He had worked with Kaka for years.
How the hell had he never noticed that Kaka could dribble like this?
Hearing Ancelotti’s denial, Milan’s executives were left completely baffled.
Could Kaka really have spent the mere fifteen days after the Champions League Final locking himself away and somehow training his dribbling to this level?
What nonsense.
But whether they believed it or not, the facts were staring them in the face.
Kaka now possessed world-class dribbling ability.
And on top of that, he’d suddenly become an attacking midfielder who could score like a striker.
After the Confederations Cup, Milan had already received inquiries from several European giants, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United, and Arsenal.
Every single one wanted to know the same thing.
Was Kaka available?
…
Inside Milan’s meeting room, the atmosphere was grim.
Silvio Berlusconi sat at the head of the table.
Although he had stepped down as club president in 2004 while serving as Italy’s prime minister, the position had remained vacant, and everyone knew he was still the man truly in control of Milan.
Beside him sat vice-president Adriano Galliani.
The sporting director, operations director, club advisers, Ancelotti, and several other senior figures were also present.
Nobody looked particularly relaxed.
They had a problem.
A very expensive problem.
Kaka had unquestionably begun showing the aura of a future football king.
Under these circumstances, a significant pay rise was inevitable.
The problem was that Berlusconi didn’t want to go too far.
In his view, an attacking midfielder still couldn’t be valued the same way as a prolific striker like Shevchenko.
Giving Kaka wages comparable to Sheva’s felt excessive.
But there was another problem.
If Milan failed to make Kaka feel valued quickly enough, clubs with enormous financial power, especially Real Madrid and Barcelona, would happily arrive waving stacks of euros.
Football was a business.
When enough money was involved, loyalty became a very flexible concept.
Kaka’s performances at the Confederations Cup had particularly excited Florentino Pérez.
One look at Kaka’s cheerful face, combined with his rapidly growing status as one of football’s brightest young stars, and the Real Madrid president was practically ready to drag him to the Santiago Bernabéu himself.
Florentino was convinced that a player like Kaka was exactly what Madrid needed to escape their current chaos and begin another revival.
And Milan knew perfectly well how Florentino operated.
When he wanted a superstar, numbers on a cheque rarely frightened him.
Especially now.
Real Madrid were going through a difficult period and desperately needed a new face capable of leading the next era.
A young superstar entering his prime?
Kaka fit their requirements almost perfectly.
“Still haven’t managed to contact Kaka?”
Berlusconi asked from the head of the table, his expression dark.
Galliani shook his head.
“His phone isn’t reachable, but we’ve spoken with his father, Bosco, and his agent, Gaetano.
I told them the club wants to open talks over an early contract extension.”
“Oh?
And?”
“Bosco’s response was positive.
He said Kaka currently has no intention of leaving Milan.”
Galliani paused.
“But…”
Berlusconi narrowed his eyes.
“But what?”
“He said that as a father, he hopes his son will receive the respect he deserves.”
“Respect, my ass!”
Berlusconi slammed a hand onto the table.
He had always followed a simple principle when running a football club.
Players should be paid according to their value.
And in his view, Kaka still hadn’t quite reached the point where he deserved to become Milan’s highest-paid player.
Giving him top wages could disrupt the entire salary structure.
Then every other star would start knocking on the door asking for more money.
But the reality in front of him was equally obvious.
If he couldn’t satisfy Bosco, that blood-sucking father-agent, Kaka might genuinely be tempted away.
And if Milan somehow lost Kaka now…
The supporters would probably tear the club leadership apart.
The meeting room fell silent.
Ancelotti, sitting near the far end of the table, suddenly found the tabletop extremely interesting.
He kept his eyes lowered and even seemed to breathe more quietly.
This had absolutely nothing to do with him.
After a long silence, Berlusconi finally sighed.
He had surrendered.
“Contact Bosco.
We can offer Kaka €5.5 million per year.
That’s only €500,000 below Shevchenko.
But in return, I want his contract extended through 2010.”
Galliani nodded immediately.
“All right.
I’ll contact them now.”