Watching Milan midfielder Kaká virtually destroy his opponents at the FIFA Club World Cup was a privilege. The Brazilian ace was rightly awarded the Player Of The Tournament for his two outstanding performances against Urawa Reds and Boca Juniors respectively, and it got me thinking about the best players that I've seen play in the flesh.

I saw Ronaldinho play at the World Cup in 2006, but the buck-toothed wizard was no where near as effective as Kaká was for Milan at this Club World Cup. Granted, the calibre of opposition was slightly higher at the World Cup in 2006, not to mention the fact that Ronaldinho was playing in a squad jam-packed with stars - Kaká included. Yet the former Sao Paulo midfielder simply gave AC Milan an added dimension, and I struggle to think of another team for whom one player is so instrumental. Barcelona fans might point to Lionel Messi, but then he too is arguably surrounded by better players than Kaká is at Milan.

Anyway, I'm keen to hear your thoughts. Who do you think the best player in world football currently is? Personally I think it's Kaká, and I'm interested to see if anyone agrees.

AC Milan are the FIFA Club World Champions after they avenged a 2003 Toyota Cup defeat by beating Boca Juniors 4-2 in the final at Yokohama International Stadium. Pippo Inzaghi scored twice, but the star of the show was undoubtedly Kaká, who scored one and set up two in another virtuoso performance. He was named Player Of The Tournament, and received a spiffy new Toyota for good measure... just the kind of car a multi-millionaire needs, I'm sure.

Milan always looked the likely winners of the tournament, after they expended minimal energy in seeing off Urawa Reds in the semi-finals. Boca Juniors, on the other hand, struggled to overcome Etoile du Sahel, and the Rossoneri simply looked a step up in class compared to their Buenos Aires counterparts.

Pippo Inzaghi was always going to get on the scoresheet - he loves these kind of (kind of) big occasions, while Boca seemed to genuinely miss their scheming midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme. Doubts persist about Boca coach Miguel Russo's future at the club (I got his name right this time, emiyan!) but there was little Russo could do here but sit and admire Milan's tactical nous.

So AC Milan are the 2007 FIFA Club World Champions! The faux-Milan fans will be partying like it's 1999 (until fifteen minutes passed their bedtime - or the last trains stop running, whichever comes first) in Yokohama, but the Rossoneri don't have too long to celebrate. It's back to the grind for them, when they take on Reggina in the Coppa Italia four days before Christmas.

We're here at the Etoile du Sahel vs Urawa Reds 3rd/4th place playoff match, and the Urawa fans, although present in smaller numbers, are in good voice. It's 2-2 in an exciting game right now, but what we're all curious about is what the support will be like for the final.

As it is, there's large sections of empty seats for this game, because the Boca vs Milan final is the real attraction.

In the previous Urawa match, we asked the question about whether the "neutral" Japanese fans would support Urawa or go for the glamour of Milan, and as it turned out they were mostly there for the spectacle of the Italians. About 70% of the stadium were AC Milan "fans"/ neutrals, but not having any vested interests, they lacked the passion of the Urawa fans and made little or no noise (other than when Seedorf scored, and when somebody did a trick).

Tonight's equation is much more complicated, particularly because of two factors:
1. Boca have quite a following here for two reasons. Firstly, popular Japan striker Naohiro Takahara spent sometime there in the early noughties, and Boca have always been well regarded for that. Secondly, Boca are a team with a very successful Copa Libertadores history, and so they've made several visits to Tokyo already for the Club World Cup's predecessor, the Intercontintenal Cup, which they won in 2000 and 2003.

2. There is a combined ticket for both matches. So you have the small pocket of Etoile du Sahel fans, the few thousand well organised Urawa fans, the surprisingly sizeable contingent of travelling Bocense, the few Italians that could be bothered to make the trip/holiday, and of course the sea of unsure, easily impressed "neutral" Japanese fans that must still be furiously pondering whether to support Milan or Boca.

We know that Boca are equally as, if not more popular than Milan, so the neutrals here will be split on that (as opposed to last year, when the relatively unknown, starless Internacional played Barcelona and their midfield marketing maestro Ronaldinho).

We know that there aren't enough Etoile fans to make a difference to the overall support.

The Boca fans are a noisy, dancing bunch, who are concentrated into one section of the ground, right next to a bank of Urawa fans. They will be creating a lot of energy, but the eventual decision on what the atmosphere is like will come down to the Urawa fans, who could easily drown out the rest of the stadium.

They will be in good spirits (Urawa just beat Etoile on penalties), but it's unlikely that they'll keep singing Urawa songs. So the question is, will they just let the passion fade away and join the ranks of casual fans in polite applause and general silence? Or will they pick a side and really make this final feel like a football match of some worth?

It's difficult to predict. They seemed to be irritated during this match by the Boca fans, who just kept singing their Boca songs throughout the game, so they might go against Boca. But then again, football fans also just love to be football fans, and they just join the Bocense in their revelry.

Milan were also the ones who beat Urawa in that tight encounter, so they might just decide that's a good enough reason to ally with Boca. But as MikeTuckerman pointed out to me, they might even prefer to support a Milan victory, because they could then say "We lost to the eventual Champions".

Lots of different theories there, but that's football fan psychology for you.

Either way, we can't wait to find out what it's like for the second match, and any fan with a bit of sense will try and be as lively as possible outside, because it's f**king freezing here.

***L'audio originale IN PORTUGUESE dell'intervista disponibile nella sezione videos CLICCA QUI PER VEDERE***

Il Milan ha vinto giovedì a Yokohama con l'Urawa, 1-0. In mezzo a uno tsunami di giornalisti giapponesi e internazionali, ho umilmente messo a segno un gran gol per Ole Ole: una veloce intervista esclusiva con il più grande giocatore del mondo al momento: Kakà.

In questa veloce chiacchierata, Kakà prla della possibilità di unificare il titolo di miglior giocatore con quello di giocatore della migliore squadra al mondo, ma ha anche parlato della difficile partita con l'Urawa e del suo amore per il San Paolo FC.

Kaká, il miglior giocatore del mondo può entrare a far parte della miglior squadra del mondo. Che cosa rappresenta per il ragazzo Ricardo venuto da Brasilia il raggiungimento di tutto ciò?
Ah, è fantastico. È un sogno che si è realizzato, è meraviglioso avere la possibilità di giocare ancora un Mondiale per Club. Stavolta spero di vincere, perché la scorsa volta non ho vinto anche se fu un grande anno per me. Far parte di questa squadra è avere davvero la chance di far parte della più grande squadra del mondo.

Che cosa pensi del fatto che sia il Milan che il Boca hanno faticato in semifinale contro squadre teoricamente più piccole?
Beh, non è facile. Nel nostro caso in particolare, penso che abbia contato il fatto che l'Urawa era la squadra di casa, stavano giocando per la loro storia. Penso che fosse una delle più grandi partite che una squadra giapponese abbia mai giocato. Quindi l'hanno giocata con entusiasmo, per il pubblico, per questo è stato difficile.

Ora, il San Paolo ha una delle squadre meglio strutturate in Brasile e ha appena vinto il campionato brasiliano ancora una volta. Segui le partite del San Paolo? Hai qualche messaggio per i loro tifosi che sicuramente tiferanno per il Milan domenica?
Sì, certamente. Seguo sempre le partite del San Paolo, seguo il campionato brasiliano, tutti i club, il San Paolo è ancora una volta campione, per la quinta volta, e questo mi rende felice. Sono cresciuto là, sono un tifoso del San Paolo. Voglio mandare un grosso abbraccio a tutti i tifosi e voglio chiedere a loro di tifare Milan, perché il Milan rappresenta il Brasile in questa partita.

It's 1am on a typical Tokyo weekend. There are millions on the streets, enjoying the nightlife in Shinjuku and Ginza, watching live bands, dancing in clubs and spending time with friends in restaurants. And where am I? Like many a football tragic, I'm in front of the computer, listening to live coverage of the Bundesliga clash between Karslruher SC and Hamburger SV.

Since my boys Borussia Dortmund are currently on the wrong end of a thumping from Wolfsburg and I'm sour that Karlsuher's goal-scorer is an ex-BVB man, I thought I'd share with you my impressions of the two combatants in tomorrow's FIFA Club World Cup Final.

I'll start with Milan. My first memories of the club are from their all-conquering 1991-92 season when the Rossoneri didn't lose a single match on their way to lifting the Scudetto. Their backline included a certain Mauro Tassotti and Alessandro Costacurta, and both men work for the club in coaching capacities these days. Teammate Paolo Maldini still works for the club too - but he'll be hoping to take to the pitch tomorrow, as he nears his 40th birthday.

I thought Milan were particularly economical in their 1-0 win over Urawa in the semi-finals. Coach Carlo Ancelotti was purring in his praise of his team following that win, after Milan clearly played out Ancelotti's game plan to perfection. Still, it's hard not to get the feeling that Alberto Gilardino is out-of-his-depth at the Rossoneri. He never seems to present a genuine threat, although of course now that I say that, he'll probably go out and score a hat-trick tomorrow.

Everything for Milan naturally goes through their superstar Kaká. Ironically though, the key man tomorrow could be Dutch international Clarence Seedorf. Plenty point to Seedorf's incredible wealth of experience, but in doing so they overlook the fact that for two seasons Seedorf has been Milan's most in-form player, along with Kaká. The duo combined to score Milan's winner against Urawa, and with the Italian giants looking relatively toothless up front, they no doubt hold the key to the Rossoneri's chances tomorrow.

Boca Juniors are a club I know far less about. They were dealt a hammer-blow when scheming playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme was ruled out of the tournament by FIFA's petty bureaucracy, but they still have plenty of experience of their own to call upon, particularly in the likes of Hugo Ibarra and Martin Palermo. One thing in Boca's favour is their sheer will to win. For all the lip service paid by Milan about "restoring Europe's honour" by lifting the Cup, South American sides have so often been the teams for whom this tournament has meant the most.

The Buenos Aires giants will also be looking to exploit the shaky form of Milan shot-stopper Dida. Carlo Ancelotti admitted that Dida was once again far from perfect against Urawa - he dropped two efforts on goal that a quicker striker than Washington could have pounced upon, and with the pacy Rodrigo Palacio in the Boca line-up, the Argentine club would love nothing more than to show up Milan's fumbling Brazilian goalkeeper.

Yet Boca were far from perfect themselves in their 1-0 win over Etoile du Sahel in their semi-final, with defender Gabriel Palletta showing all and sundry just why Liverpool were so quick to discard him from their squad. Palletta was often caught facing the wrong way or out of position entirely against Etoile, and he will surely be punished if he continues his habit of knocking around wayward backpasses.

There'll probably be just the one goal in it, with matches of this magnitude rarely rising to the greatest of heights. I think that goal will be in favour of Milan, and I'm going to tip Filippo Inzaghi to sneak it. So there you have it. I've laid my cards on the table. What do you think?

En una entrevista al Diário Ole de Argentina (que nada tiene que ver con nuestra comunidad Ole Ole), el entrenador  Argentino disparó: “Los jugadores de Milan son buenos pero míos son los mejores”.

Creo que independiente de qual equipo tiene los mejores jugadores DT Miguel Russo perdió una gran chance de mantener su boca cerrada. Estoy seguro que esa afirmación será usada por el DT de Milan para motivar sus atletas.

Hablando de Carlo Ancelotti, ello preferiu un discuro más político, sin controversias en su entrevista al periódico italiano Correo Dello Sport. Ancelotti reconoceu que el equipo de Boca tiene un buen mix de joventud y experiencia aun que no possui la misma experiencia del equipo de 2003 que venció a Milan en la ultima vez que los dos equipos jugaram en el Mundial.

Ancelotti también recuerdó el facto de que los equipos sudamericanos tratán esa competitión com mucha mas seriedad que los equipos europeus pero que Milan no tiene la intención de cometer los mismos errores que Liverpool (perdió para São Paulo FC en 2005) o Barcelona (perdió para Internacional de Porto Alegre en 2006).

La bataglia de las palavras ya empezó. Quien ganará la guerra?

Russo está seguro que su equipo ganará la Copa

Ancelotti: no vamos sustimar a nadie, jugaremos al maximo

In a interview to Diario Ole from Argentina (which has no connections whatsoever with our Ole Ole community), Argentine coach shot this one:  “Los jugadores de Milan son buenos pero míos son los mejores” (Milan players are good but mine are the best).

I guess independently of which team has the best players coach Miguel Russo just passed on a great chance to keep his mouth shut. I'm sure his statement will be used in the pre-game lecture by Milan's coach to boost his team's motivation.

By the way, coach Carlo Ancelotti preffered to use a more political, less controversial, speech on his interview to the italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport. Ancelotti pointed out that Boca has a great mix of youth and experience even though it's not the same experience of the 2003 team who beat Milan the last time both teams played for the Intercontinental Toyota Cup.

Ancellotti also remembered the fact that this competition usually ia taken a lot more seriously by the South American teams but Milan doesn't want to make the same mistakes as Liverpool (beaten by São Paulo in 2005) and Barcelona (beaten by Internacional in 2006).

The battle of words has started. Who will win the war?

Boca Junior's coach is confident his team will be the winners

Ancelotti: We are foccused and motivated

Em uma entrevista ao Diário Ole da Argentina (que nada tem haver com nossa comunidade Ole Ole), o técnico Argentino disparou: “Los jugadores de Milan son buenos pero míos son los mejores” (os jogadores do Milan são bons mas os meus são os melhores).

Acho que independente de qual equipe tem os melhores jogadores o técnico Miguel Russo perdeu uma ótima oportunidade de ficar calado. Essa frase tenho certeza vai ser usada no preleção do técnico Milanês para motivar seus atletas.

Por falar em Carlo Ancelotti, este prefiriu um discurso mais político, menos controverso, na entrevista que deu ao jornal italianao Corriere Dello Sport. Ancelotti ressaltou que a equipe do Boca tem uma ótima mistura de juventude e experiência apesar de não contar com a mesma experiência da equipe de 2003 que derrotou o Milan na última vez que as duas equipes se enfrentaram pelo Mundial Interclubes.

Ancellotti também lembrou o fato dessa competição geralmente ser muito mais levada a sério pelas equipes sulamericanas mas que o Milan não pretende repetir os erros do Liverpool (derrotado pelo São Paulo em 2005) nem do Barcelona (derrotado pelo Inter em 2006).

A batalha de discursos dos técnicos já começou. Quem sairá vencedor nessa guerra?

Miguel Russo está certo que sua equipe sairá vencedora 

Carlo Ancelotti quer dar o título que o Milan não conseguiu ganhar em 2003

It's an odd thing. On the one hand FIFA are desperately trying to legitimise both the idea and appearance of the Club World Cup, a tournament that no one really seems to take seriously outside of South America; and on the other hand, they continue to act like silly, pedantic bureaucrats when they don't have to.

The reference in this case, is to the situation of Juan Roman Riquelme, Argentine midfield maestro, and arguably one of the world's best players. Riquelme was instrumental in Boca winning the Copa Libertadores, on loan from Villareal.

Now it was never Riquelme's intention to return to Villareal, and it was never Villareal's intention to keep him, and statements from Boca and the player made it clear that his future was at La Bombonera.

The eventual transfer, when it took place, was a long, drawn-out wrangle which was unfortunately just a few days after FIFA's "deadline" for squad registration for this tournament.

Now you can understand something like that happening for the Champions League, where it's an important competitive tournament, and there are scores of clubs. But the Club World Cup is essentially supposed to be an exhibition of world football, so why not allow Boca to exhibit the world's best?

Considering that some teams only qualify for this tournament a few weeks before FIFA's registration deadline passes, and that some teams sign players just to play in this tournament (Sydney FC with Kazu Miura, Auckland FC with Teru Iwamoto), it really is bizarre that FIFA didn't make some sort of exception to allow Boca to play Riquelme. After all, he was so instrumental in leading them to the Libertadores title.

It's a lose-lose situation for everyone, except, I suppose, Milan... although that's just a maybe - great players love to play against other greats.

The Japanese public would have been much more inovlved. The marketing opportunities would have increased. There would have been more worldwide TV and news coverage. More Argentines would care (Boca might be playing, but Riquelme is an idol all over his country, not just for his club), and more football fans in general. Merchandise, revenue, blah blah blah. Considering that FIFA are usually such greedy, money-hungry, profit-oriented fusspots, it really doesn't make any sense.

And speaking of sense, specifically common sense, FIFA could do with some soon. They allowed Milan to replace the inured Ronaldo with Giuseppe Favalli a few days ago, even though Ronaldo has been unfit for ages, and only had a very slim chance of playing in the first place. Perhaps a Boca player could have got injured?

***La versione originale in PORTOGHESE disponibile nella sezione video CLICCA QUI PER VEDERLA

Calciatore professionista da oltre 18 anni, dal suo debutto al San Paolo nel  1989. In tutti questi anni Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, universalmente conosciuto come Cafu, è stato un personaggio modello.

È apparso sulla scena del calcio brasiliano proprio quando c'era la mancanza di un laterale destro di difesa, e da allora è diventato un idolo.

Ha raggiunto il top in carriera quando ha vinto con con il Brasile la quinta Coppa del Mondo dei verdeoro nel 2002.

Cafu è un "broda", come ciascuno chiamerebbe il suo migliore amico. E amichevole è stata la nostra chiacchierata, avvenuta appena dopo l'ultimo allenamento del Milan a Yokohama prima della semifinale del Mondiale FIFA per Club con gli Urawa Reds.

Cafu, dopo così tanti anni nel calcio sei sempre lo stesso, voglio dire, anche tu pensi di essere lo stesso degli inizi? Non ho dubbi, anzi non vedo perché uno dovrebbe cambiare. Sono lo stesso Cafu di trent'anni fa. Sono sempre stato il Cafu felice e bonario e sempre vincente, che poi è la cosa più importante, giusto?

Certamente... è molto importante... Hai vinto così tanti trofei, l'Intercontinentale col San Paolo nella fantastica rosa di Telé Santana e ora hai l'opportunità di vincere un altro titolo mondiale col Milan.  Provi sempre la stessa sensazione quando vinci un torneo? Naturalmente è così. Vincere campionati e coppe è sempre molto piacevole, significa che il lavoro che abbiamo fatto sta dando i suoi frutti. Sto ancora raccogliendo quanto seminato tanto tempo fa. Penso che vincere è semplicemente grandioso. Voglio sottolineare che questa è la mia quarta possibilità di vincere un Mondiale per Club, ne ho vinti 2 su 2 col São Paulo, poi abbiamo (col Milan) perso nel 2003 e ora ho la possibilità, con l'aiuto di Dio, di vincere questo col Milan.

Vero. Cafu, tu hai superato i 30 anni, come tanti altri componenti della rosa milanista. Qual è il segreto... Voglio dire, ti ho visto correre su e giù e crossare come il Cafu del San Paolo... qual è il segreto di questa forma eccellente? Io ho 32 anni ma non ci riuscirei mai. Il duro lavoro, tanto duro lavoro, dedizione, forza di volontà, è tutto importante, no? E la passione per il calcio, ovviamente. Credo che finché avrò passione correrò come hai visto qui. Quando mi renderò conto che la passione sta svanendo, capirò che è il momento di appendere le scarpe al chiodo. Ma mi sento ancora in forma e se, Dio volendo, non avrò infortuni, pensò che continuerò a giocare a lungo.

Che cosa intendi per “a lungo”? Hai dei progetti per il dopo? Vedi... ancora non so. Solo Dio lo sa, solo il tempo lo dirà, giusto? Se sto bene come oggi ho ancora la condizione per giocare tanto tempo, ma aspettiamo giugno. Voglio aspettare la fine di questa stagione per prendere una decisione.