"Ricardo?"
Scolari was slightly surprised. In his impression, Kaká was a very shy young man.
"Come in. Let's talk."
He tiredly pinched the bridge of his nose. He had been working late into the night on tactics for the match against Turkey, particularly on deciding who should replace the suspended Ronaldinho.
"What brings you here so late, Ricardo?"
Scolari poured Kaká a glass of water.
Kaká continued encouraging himself inwardly. He remembered the support Ethan had given him over the phone moments earlier, took a deep breath, and spoke.
"Sir, I want to replace Ronaldinho tomorrow. I know I can do it."
Scolari stared at him in surprise.
Kaká had never seemed like the kind of player who would volunteer for such a responsibility, but he had come to see him and had clearly given the matter serious thought.
"Do you truly believe you can do it? You understand that this is a World Cup semi-final."
Scolari remained uncertain.
Kaká's ability was widely recognised and did not need to be questioned, but he was still young. No one knew whether he could perform at his best under such pressure.
This match would decide whether Brazil reached the World Cup final.
Scolari did not want to take unnecessary risks, and even if he had to gamble, he wanted to reduce the chances of failure as much as possible.
Kaká nodded firmly.
"Yes, sir. I can do it.
"If you give me the opportunity, I will repay your trust with my best possible performance.
"You know I have the ability."
Scolari studied him for a long moment, as though searching for something in his eyes.
Eventually, he nodded.
"All right, Ricardo. I'll consider you.
"But it is already very late. Go back and rest. Make sure you get enough sleep, and we'll speak again before tomorrow's match. Understood?"
Kaká was disappointed not to receive a definite answer.
He could only nod and leave Scolari's room.
...
"Hello, Boss."
Kaká called Ethan.
"How did it go?" Ethan asked with concern.
In his previous life, Kaká had publicly declared through the newspapers that he was willing to replace Ronaldinho after the Brazilian was suspended.
Scolari had ultimately chosen someone else.
This time, Ethan had hoped Kaká would improve his chances by approaching the manager directly.
"I failed, Boss. I don't think he'll let me start," Kaká replied dejectedly.
Ethan was also disappointed, but he quickly forced himself to sound positive.
"It's all right, Ricardo.
"With Ronaldinho suspended, you should still be among the substitutes. That is already an opportunity.
"Whether you start or not, you must remain confident.
"Even if you do not play again at this tournament, there will still be another World Cup."
Ethan continued encouraging him until Kaká's mood improved, then ended the call.
...
The weather the following day was damp, largely because South Korea and Japan had experienced frequent heavy rain in recent weeks.
Both Brazil and Turkey had prepared for the possibility of playing on a wet pitch.
The media had focused heavily on two players as possible replacements for Ronaldinho.
One was Edílson, while the other was the outstanding dribbler Denílson.
Edílson was over 30 and possessed considerable experience.
Denílson, meanwhile, had exceptional close control and was widely considered the most natural replacement for Ronaldinho.
However, when Brazil's starting lineup was announced, everyone was stunned.
The player selected to replace Ronaldinho was neither number 20 Edílson nor number 17 Denílson.
It was number 23, Kaká.
How could the normally cautious Scolari take such a gamble on him?
Kaká had played only 18 minutes during the tournament, and in that brief appearance, he had not demonstrated enough to convince anyone that he was ready for such responsibility.
Could he truly replace Ronaldinho?
This was the World Cup.
Kaká was equally astonished when he learned that he had been selected in the starting lineup.
He followed his teammates into the dressing room, still struggling to believe it.
Before entering, he looked towards the stands.
He knew Ethan would be watching from somewhere inside the stadium.
Scolari's tactical instructions were straightforward.
The players were already familiar with their responsibilities. Kaká was the only unfamiliar element.
"Ricardo!"
Scolari called his name.
Kaká remained lost in the excitement of being selected and failed to hear him.
Ronaldo, seated beside him, gently nudged him with an elbow.
He had always liked his shy young teammate.
"Ah, sir!"
Kaká immediately looked up, flustered.
For a moment, Scolari regretted his decision.
Kaká was so young.
Could he truly withstand the pressure?
"I'm giving you only 45 minutes, Ricardo.
"You must prove yourself to me and to your teammates.
"If you fail to do that, you will not remain on the pitch.
"This is a ruthless battle, and you need to understand that."
Kaká nodded seriously.
Strangely, the warning calmed him.
He now knew that he had truly been selected to start.
All that remained was to prove his ability and produce a convincing performance.
After giving Kaká several specific instructions, Scolari checked the time and sent the players onto the pitch.
...
Kaká played as the attacking midfielder, forming Brazil's front three alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo.
It was the first time he had played with two such renowned stars.
He appeared nervous during the opening stages, and Turkey marked him tightly.
Several poor touches surrendered possession and allowed the opposition to counterattack.
Watching from the touchline, Scolari sighed and shook his head.
Kaká was still young.
However ambitious he might be, he had not yet adapted to playing under such enormous pressure.
Even so, the experience would benefit him.
Scolari believed that 45 minutes in a World Cup semi-final could teach Kaká more than an entire season in the Brazilian league.
Countless players spent their entire careers dreaming of such an opportunity.
Scolari also had his own plan for the match.
Even if Kaká struggled throughout the first half, he believed he could still make changes after the interval and secure victory.
Kaká failed to reach his usual level during the opening 20 minutes.
However, over the previous two years, he had travelled to England whenever possible to train with New Manchester United.
Several other young players signed by Ethan had done the same.
Training with an English team had made Kaká comfortable with high-tempo football.
He did not fear aggressive marking or the physical challenges that troubled many Brazilian players.
His physique had improved considerably over the previous two years, and during training at New Manchester United, he could even compete physically with Curtis.
Under Turkey's tight marking, Kaká gradually adjusted to the rhythm of the match.
He began to display his ability through his first touch, passing, and dribbling.
As his confidence grew, his refined technique at high speed and his explosive acceleration caused enormous problems for the Turkish players assigned to mark him.
As Kaká settled into the game, Ronaldo and Rivaldo also became more effective.
Brazil's attack began creating opportunities regularly.
Kaká even attempted a shot from the edge of the penalty area that would have gone in had Rüştü not produced an excellent save.
Gradually, Brazil took control of the tempo.
Kaká became increasingly influential and frequently dropped deeper to receive possession.
Brazil's two holding midfielders began passing to him instinctively, allowing him to determine the direction of their attacks.
Turkey's defence, however, remained extremely disciplined.
Their main objective was to contain Ronaldo and Rivaldo, and they refused to offer Brazil any clear opportunities.
They had no intention of accepting defeat.
The minutes continued to pass, but the score remained 0-0.
Despite that, both teams attacked with considerable intensity.
As the first half entered stoppage time, Kaká felt his opportunity slipping away.
He knew Scolari kept his word.
If the manager had promised him only 45 minutes, then 45 minutes was all he would receive.
He needed to produce something before the interval.
Gilberto Silva's pass reached Kaká.
A Turkish player pressed tightly from behind, but Kaká used his body to shield the ball and brought it under control before turning and accelerating past his marker.
The smooth movement drew cheers from across the stadium.
Kaká did not slow down.
Instead, he continued accelerating, dribbled past another opponent, and drove directly towards Turkey's defensive line.
Ronaldo had spent most of the first half waiting patiently near the edge of the defence, revealing little of his intentions.
Kaká spotted him from the corner of his eye.
The moment a gap appeared between the two centre-backs, he threaded a precise pass through the opening.
Ronaldo understood immediately.
He timed his run perfectly, beat the offside trap, pushed the ball beyond the advancing Rüştü, and rolled it into the empty net.
After scoring, Ronaldo ran straight towards Kaká and embraced him excitedly.
The two celebrated together as the rest of the Brazilian players rushed over to join them.
In the second half, Scolari withdrew the injured Ronaldo to protect him for the final.
However, Kaká's influence did not diminish after Ronaldo left the pitch.
He continued to improve as the match progressed, becoming the organiser of Brazil's attack and directing their forward play.
His surging runs through the centre repeatedly threatened Turkey's defence.
After producing an excellent all-round performance, Kaká scored his first World Cup goal in the 76th minute.
He made a late run into the penalty area, met Rivaldo's layoff, and calmly placed the ball into the net.
Wanting to protect the youngster, Scolari replaced Kaká with Denílson.
As Kaká left the pitch, the entire stadium rose to applaud him.
It was a fitting reward for an outstanding performance.
Brazil protected their 2-0 lead until the final whistle.
Kaká was named Man of the Match, and the young Brazilian became an overnight sensation.
After the match, Ethan had intended to congratulate him immediately.
However, before he could do so, he received an urgent call from Walsh in Manchester.
He had to return at once.
(To be continued.)