(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Three seasons ago, Ricardo Kaká joined Orlando City SC for its first-ever campaign in Major League Soccer. For the club and the Brazilian superstar, the goal was playoffs and, eventually, to bring home an MLS Cup. Unfortunately for both parties, City have failed to reach the playoffs in each of their first three seasons. The 2017 season seemed to be promising, as a Kaká-less Lions squad won six of their first seven matches but would ultimately win just four more times before the season finale on Sunday.

Now, following the Lions team captain’s final MLS game in purple, a new era is about to begin. For second-year Lions head coach Jason Kreis, it’s now an opportunity for other players to develop their respective leadership qualities.

“Yeah, yeah. I think [next season will be the start of a new era]. I think it’s time for other players to now step up and take bigger leadership roles, be willing to take more responsibility for we do.” Kreis said after the 1-0 loss to Columbus Crew SC on Oct. 15. “And I think it’s time for us to improve this team using the resources that will be available. And it’s time, as I said, it’s time to take a big step forward.”

For Kaká, his final match in Orlando City Stadium epitomized the affection he felt from fans and the community. In stoppage time of the second half, two young fans vaulted the border between the stands and the pitch and greeted Kaká with hugs as he reciprocated.

“I think they just showed me how this city was with this last game,” Kaká said after his final City match. “So, this is, for me—the two kids was the sign of the other supporters and everybody. So, it was—not every game it happens, but it happened today, and it was amazing. So…to see the two kids come and say they’re gonna miss me, I’m gonna miss them too.”

Naturally, Kaká was a perennially instrumental piece in Orlando City’s lineups over his three-year stint in Central Florida. Since 2015, Kaká has started 69 of his 75 appearances for 5,958 minutes. He recorded 24 goals and 22 assists, recording six goals and five assists in 2017.

First-year Lions midfielder Yoshimar Yotún sees Kaká leaving as a huge loss.

“The club is gonna suffer a lot. He’s a very important player on and off the field,” Yotún said, translated from Spanish, after the loss to Columbus. “We’re one game away from finishing the season, but we’re already thinking about next year. And I had to—me, myself, one of the most recent acquisitions for the club, we want next year to be better. So we’re all looking forward to next year and making sure we can get the results that we want.”

On Oct. 18, the Lions held their first training session with Kaká no longer officially a part of the team. While Kreis and goalkeeper Joe Bendik didn’t notice anything different without Kaká, right-back Scott Sutter reminisced on how a 35-year-old Kaká conducted himself during training sessions.

“Yeah, this was obviously kind of the first day [without Kaká],” Sutter said after training on Oct. 18. “I mean, he’s—you know, despite his ripe, old age, he trained a lot, and he put a lot of work in. He was a top professional. So, I mean, I’ve played with older guys where they turn out half the time, and half the time they don’t. And Ricky never was like that… So this is the first time that he hasn’t really been around, so it’s definitely a bit different.

“I mean, his name was still up in the lockers. His kit was all hung up for him. So, it’s sad, but, you know, that’s the way of football. Unfortunately, you gotta say goodbye to these guys, and, obviously, Ricky being the footballer and person that he is, it’s a loss.”

Kaká leaving Orlando City gives the Lions more fiscal room to add to the roster next season. His $7 million contract is the highest in MLS. On the pitch already, the Lions have found attacking strength in the likes of first-year City players Giles Barnes and Yotún.

While starting all nine of his appearances with one game to go, Yotún has recorded a goal and three assists in 797 minutes. As for Barnes, who was acquired via trade days before the start of the 2017 regular season, he notched three goals and two assists in 2,047 minutes while starting 22 of his 33 appearances.

“Yeah, I mean, we added a lot of excellent players and a lot of excellent personalities,” Bendik said after training on Oct. 18. “You know, when that middle of the season kinda came, I don’t know if maybe we just lost track of it or what exactly happened. Obviously, I knew maybe we wouldn’t have lost, but, you know, we have a lot of strong personalities, and that makes me very, very hopeful that we have a strong foundation here, and we just need to keep at it and keep working at it.”

As Kaká embarks on his post-Orlando City life, he knows the relationships within the club will always last. His relationship with CEO Alex Leitão and majority owner Flávio Augusto da Silva have cemented a lasting opportunity for, perhaps, a reunion in a non-player capacity.

“It’s very good when you left a place, and the door is still open,” Kaká said. “So I think it’s like that [here]. So, I’m leaving the club right now, but the door here will be open for me, and I’ll always have a relationship with this club. So, I will always be a Lion forever, a supporter of this team and this club, and I think, for me, this is the most important thing. So, I’m very happy that I could build this relationship with this club, and the club is about people.”

Orlando City concludes their 2017 season with a visit to the Philadelphia Union on Sunday at 4 p.m.

For more on the Lions, as they prepare for Philly and enter the offseason, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.