Kaka’s last game for Orlando City proved an emotional affair for the Brazil legend, as he was moved to tears before and after the match.
The first captain for the club after it joined MLS in 2015, Kaka confirmed last week he would not be returning to the team after three seasons, though he did not announce his retirement.
Orlando's final home game of the season was Sunday against the Columbus Crew, and Kaka — who will not travel for next week's regular season finale at the Philadelphia Union — started tearing up during the national anthem.
True love from our Captain. #ThankYouKaka pic.twitter.com/DMBLveTLNu
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) October 15, 2017
Signing off for @OrlandoCitySC. #ThankYouKaka https://t.co/xD0yTmFLaS
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 15, 2017
Kaka went the full 90 minutes as Orlando dropped a 1-0 result on Ola Kamara's 66th-minute strike, with the Brazilian star finishing his final MLS campaign with six goals and five assists in 23 matches.
And he grew emotional again during a postgame interview, saying: "Today was a special day for me because the whole day kept reminding me of these past three years, everything that happened — in this city, with this club, everything. Today is just about [saying] thank you.
"I'm going to miss you guys. I'll be a Lion forever."