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The day after the United States national team failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, there was more huge news for Orlando City SC fans to chew over.

With Orlando City SC calling a news conference for 7PM (UK time), Lions captain Kaká officially announced he won’t be renewing his contract with the club beyond 2017.

Speaking at the conference, Kaká said: “As you all know my contract with Orlando City ends this year. My final decision is not to renew.

“My first cycle as an Orlando City player will comes to an end at the end of the season.

“The announcement today is for that & just for that. My decision is not to renew with Orlando City. I will honor this jersey ’til the end as always”

By using the world ‘cycle’, Kaká reiterated that he won’t be returning to Orlando City SC as a player but hopes that he will cross paths with the club in the future.

With fellow Brazilians Flávio Augusto da Silva and Alex Leitão claiming that their door is always open for Kaká, perhaps this isn’t the last we see of the man in The City Beautiful.

Kaká’s legacy

Propelling Orlando City SC to new global heights after signing for City in July 2014, the capture of one of the world’s most recognisable footballers undoubtedly put us on the map.

Scoring 24 Lions goals 73 Major League Soccer appearances so far, Kaká enjoyed his most prolific seasons in 2015 and 2016, notching nine goals for Orlando City SC.

Missing out on the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs by five points and the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs by a single point, Kaká will feel mightily frustrated at failing to steer the Lions past the regular season.

What could’ve been…

Despite Kaká‘s best efforts in three seasons elapsed, Orlando City SC are still yet to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs following a hugely disappointing 2017 campaign.

Still the highest paid player in all of MLS with a guaranteed compensation figure of $7.168, never progressing beyond the regular season with a player of Kaká‘s calibre must be classed as failure.

Enduring his most difficult campaign this year having only scored six goals in just 22 of 32 games played, you still cannot deny what Kaká the player, person and brand has done for Orlando City SC and soccer as a whole.

Thank you Ricky!

Lucky enough to meet the 2007 Ballon d’Or winner on two occasions in the flesh, we must say the 35-year-old was ever the classy professional he’s embodied over his entire 16-year playing career.

From the bottom of our hearts, Orlando City UK would like to thank Kaká for all of his contributions in the purple Orlando City SC jersey and wish him all the very best as he embarks on his next life chapter.

Orlando City SC supporters will get a final chance to see Kaká play at Orlando City Stadium when the Lions face Columbus Crew this Sunday.

All the best Ricky!

Taylor

BREAKING NEWS | @KAKA will NOT be renewing his contract with @OrlandoCitySC beyond 2017!

Thanks for everything, Ricky! 👏🏽

All the best! 👍🏽 pic.twitter.com/J3bUIkeDt2

— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) October 11, 2017