BREAKING: Kaka announces retirement 10 years after beating CR7 & Messi to win Ballon d'Or
Kaka, 35, spent last season playing in the MLS with Orlando City, though had confirmed he would be leaving at the end of the campaign.
The winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2007 gave no clues as to what he will do in the immediate future.
It has been pointed out that he could perhaps fulfil a director type function at either Sao Paulo or Milan, but there will be no further announcements at this stage.
"I came to the conclusion that now is the time to finish my career as a professional player," Kaka said in an interview with the television channel Globo.
During the interview, the Brazilian reviewed his career and noted that his time at Real Madrid wasn't great.
"It was far from what I expected," he continued.
When asked about his toughest moment as a footballer, the elimination of Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup, after losing 1-0 to France, was his choice.
"It was one of the best Brazilian teams in history and losing like that was very difficult," he recalled.
Sao Paulo, from whom he had an offer to continue, published a note which he highlighted his career.
"He is a player who says goodbye full of conquests that will eternalise his name in world football. Thanks Kaka! Sao Paulo will always be your home and its doors will always be open for you."
Kaka was trained in the youth categories of Sao Paulo, and he made his professional debut for them in 2001.
Two years later he was signed by Milan before moving to Real Madrid in 2009, where he stayed until 2013.
He returned to Milan for a season then went back to Sao Paulo before moving the MLS in 2015, where he played at Orlando City, the last club of his career.
With the Brazilian national team, he starred for just over a decade, playing a total of 95 games and scoring 31 goals.
'Father, It was much more than I could ever imagined. Thank you! I’m now ready for the next journey. In Jesus name. Amen,' wrote Kaka.
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