Kaka: From Brazil to Berlin

The sights and sounds of the Berlin Marathon will encompass a flavor of South American Samba this weekend when one of Brazil’s most famous sons tackles the 26.2-mile course.

The 2007 World Player of the Year, Brazilian star Kaka, is taking to the streets of the German capital for his first Abbott World Marathon Major.

With a half marathon in Rio under his belt in under 1:40, the 40-year-old is clearly a capable endurance runner, and is bidding for a 3:40 finish on Sunday.

Running with his brother and father – who will be some way behind the former AC Milan and Real Madrid star, the 92-cap international revealed the strategic reasons behind choosing Berlin for his 26.2-mile debut.

“I have a very good coach and together we decided on Berlin. I wanted to experience the marathon, I wanted to run a Major, and he told me the best one to start with was Berlin because it’s flat and it’s a very good city with a good atmosphere, so the whole package brought me to Berlin.”

An injury to his brother in training means there won’t be much sibling rivalry on show, but for Kaka, race day will be about enjoying it as a family.

“When we started in the pandemic, my father spent 45 days in hospital. I know a lot of people faced that as well. Fortunately, he’s with us today, and when we decided to run we decided to bring him. He’s just going to walk but we wanted him in this experience with us.”

And he is all too aware that the marathon will give him and over 40,000 others the chance to compete on the same stretch of road as the greatest, Eliud Kipchoge.

“My time will be different from the professionals of course, but this is something that’s great about the marathon. As an amateur, I can run and play on the same ‘field’ as the pros. You can’t do that in football.

“This is something really special about the marathon. I can say I was running with him, of course in a different time, but that’s unique, and I’m very excited for that.”