Kaka: Ronaldo is a complete player

Posted Friday, November 11, 2011 by ESPN

Real Madrid midfielder Kaka believes team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo is the most complete player in the world at the moment.

Ronaldo's sparkling form over the last few seasons has seen him claim a place amongst the world's elite players, but plenty of debate still reigns over whether he is the best football at present.

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi is another who can stake his claim to that title, while Spain duo Xavi and Andres Iniesta are as highly regarded.

However, Kaka, who won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2007, believes Ronaldo can be considered the most complete footballer at the moment.

"Choosing the best player in the world is relative because it depends on what you do collectively," Kaka said on Real's official website.

"But I'd say Cristiano Ronaldo is the most all-round player in modern football.

"He scores with both his feet, from headers and from free-kicks."

Kaka showed early signs of forming an impressive partnership with Ronaldo after they both arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2009, but his time at the club has been plagued by injury since then.

Nonetheless, the Brazilian international is finally starting to rediscover the form he showed whilst at AC Milan that saw Real fork out £56million for his services.

And Kaka insists he never had any doubts he would be back to his best despite some disappointing times.

"I had disheartening days because I trained and worked hard but still didn't know what was wrong with me.

"I was nevertheless sure I would perform at a high level again and I want to be a star player.

"I don't know if I'll be the player I was at Milan, but I want to be an important footballer and help my team. That's my motivation."

The 29-year-old further reveals there were times when he had been completely devastated by his injury problems, but is confident he still has a role to play under Jose Mourinho.

"There were times I seemed to be a robot by moving mechanically around the pitch. I wasn't happy and I felt pain after doing stretching exercises.

"I didn't know what would happen to me, but I never thought about stopping. I cried many times alone and with my family.
"I'm now performing well. I spoke to the coach and he said he wanted me here.

"Then, president [Florentino] Perez explained they had no need to sell and said I should be patient and remain calm. I was relaxed after coming out out that meeting.

"It is a challenge to remain here and it motivates me."

Now in his third season at Real, Kaka has so far only managed 66 appearances with the club but has notched up 20 goals along the way, an impressive haul nonetheless.