Kaka and Robinho honoured
15/10/2008 10:46 AM
Kaka and Robinho were honoured for their career with the Brazil national team on Wednesday.
The AC Milan midfielder left his footprint in the Path of Fame of the Estadio Maracana.
Kaka, 26, is the 97th player to be given this homage in the Estadio Maracana, owned by the Rio de Janeiro state government.
The footprint of the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year has been placed alongside the ones left by Zico, Junior and Marta, one of the world's biggest women football players.
"This is much more than what I have imagined. There are big names written here and mine will be there from now on," said Kaka.
"I am very proud. Zico is a worldwide idol, the player I looked up to. He has a big history at Flamengo and with the national team and I am honoured at being placed by his side."
"The Maracana is an icon of football, a symbol, and its existence is linked to the national team and Brazilian football."
Kaka scored three goals in five matches at this stadium - two with the national team in the World Cup qualifier Ecuador in October last year and one against Flamengo when playing for Sao Paulo in 2002.
After Tuesday evening's training session, Robinho was also honoured on a wall of pictures in the stadium remembering the sequence of dribbles he did before Elano scored the fourth goal for the national team in the 5-0 World Cup Qualifying victory over Ecuador in 2007.
"I am very happy. I didn't expect to be honoured this way," he said. "I am here on this wall thanks to Elano. I like dribbling and it is even better if it ends with a goal."