In Pictures: Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni links up with former soccer superstar Kaka in Sao Paulo; oversees Brazilian's tennis practice
Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni recently made his way to Sao Paulo in Brazil and met former soccer ace Kaka. The 63-year-old also played a bit of tennis with the Brazilian and remembered his Real Madrid days.
Kaka rose to prominence in the 2000s, catching the eye as an attacking midfielder capable of winning matches on his own with his rapid acceleration and technical skills with the ball at his feet. He was a part of the Brazilian national soccer team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2002. The next year, he joined Italian giants AC Milan from Sao Paulo, in a move that would catapult him to international superstardom.
As a part of a star-studded team, Kaka played a crucial role in helping AC Milan to Serie A and UEFA Champions League titles. His performances during his six-year spell in the Italian capital saw him bag the 2007 Ballon d'Or and several other accolades. In 2009, the Brazilian sensation moved to Real Madrid.
In Madrid, Kaka's form would rapidly decline due to persistent injury struggles. However, he still managed to find the net on 29 occasions across 120 appearances for the Spanish soccer heavyweights. Brief stints at AC Milan, Orlando City SC (MLS) and hometown club Sao Paulo followed before the Brazilian eventually decided to call time on his illustrious career in 2017.
Recently, Toni Nadal, uncle and ex-coach of former World No. 1 and 22-time Major winner Rafael Nadal, visited Sao Paulo and met Kaka. The two even bonded over tennis. Toni later took to Instagram and shared a post featuring several pictures of the two, writing:
"Having a nice time in Sao Paulo playing tennis with Kaka, a great person with whom I enjoyed remembering his stage as a football player in Spain"
Earlier this month, Nadal interacted with one of Real Madrid's present-day superstars, Kylian Mbappe.
Rafael Nadal received Kylian Mbappe's Real Madrid jersey after the Frenchman's La Liga debut
Nadal, an avid Real Madrid fan, was in attendance for the club's La Liga opener against Mallorca, his hometown club. The match marked the La Liga debut of Kylian Mbappe, the 25-year-old Frenchman who joined Real Madrid earlier this year on a free transfer after seven illustrious seasons for Paris Saint-Germain.
Even though the match itself ended in a 1-1 draw, Nadal took time to meet Mbappe in the tunnel of the Mallorca Son Moix Stadium. The Spaniard and the Frenchman shared a heartwarming embrace, with Mbappe gifting the 22-time Major winner his Real Madrid jersey.
On the tennis front, Nadal has yet to play since his men's singles and doubles campaigns at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The former World No. 1 pulled out of the ongoing US Open but has committed to playing at the 2024 Laver Cup in Berlin, where he will be a part of Team Europe.