Orlando City has announced today that star player and captain, Kaka, has returned to the side from international duty with a slight knee muscle injury.
Kaka will be evaluated on Thursday by the Lions physicians, with his status currently listed as day-to-day. The former Real Madrid and AC Milan midfielder played the final 23 minutes of Brazil’s 1-0 win against Costa Rica on Friday night; however the Ballon d’Or winner missed out on Brazil’s 4-1 riot against the USMNT on Tuesday.
Orlando City general manager Paul McDonough said in a statement released by the club: “We are incredibly disappointed with this recent development for Kaka and for our fans. “He has played 25 games for us so far this season, over 2,100 minutes, without any major issues or concerns. To the contrary, he undergoes one training session and match with the Brazilian National Team and he is injured."
Kaka was not the only OCSC player to pick up an injury over the international window. El Salvador captain and Orlando City midfielder, Darwin Ceren, was stretchered in El Salvador’s 1-0 win away to Curacao.
McDonough confirmed that Ceren was currently being monitored, stating: “International call-ups have been a challenge for us, as we are also evaluating an injured Darwin Ceren following his participation with El Salvador.”
Kaka has been one of the star players in the MLS this season, and was named captain of the MLS All-Star team during their 2-1 win against Premier League side Tottenham Hotspurs, in which Kaka scored and assisted David Villa in an entertaining game.
The Orlando captain could miss the Lion’s crucial home game against Sporting Kansas City, and with the season coming close to an end, Orlando would be hoping to get their Brazilian maestro back into the side as they hope to clinch the final play-off spot in the Eastern Conference.