Master Smurf
Milan Legend
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2011
- Messages
- 17,119
- Reaction score
- 26,297
- Location
- Cayman Islands
- Fav. Players
- Baggio, Weah, Bergkamp, Becks, Sheva, Kaka, Rooney, Kun, Thiago Silva, Pato, Kessie
Kaka very evidently saved himself for the big matches by playing on 2nd gear in many matches.. not to the extent that Seedorf did, but quite a bit. He had to do it because unlike the two behemoths who followed him in the Ballon d'Or list for the next ten years, he was not physically freakishly gifted. Paqueta is a young, hungry player. He hasn't become that cynical yet.
Messi is supremely talented but he also has a team built and playing for him for most of his career. CR7 isnt as "gifted" as either Messi or Kaka but work ethic and ego made him into the behemoth as you put it. He is Kobe Bryant on level 10 - its the only thing I really respect about him.
I dont think Kaka ever worked as hard as them off the pitch and also I dont think he tried as hard for the NT and after his injury time he really wasnt the same.