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Football

21st Apr 2024

Ex-wife of Ballon d’Or winner divorced him because he was ‘too perfect’

Callum Boyle

He also won nine major trophies, including a World Cup

The ex-wife of a Ballon d’Or winner has revealed that the reason behind their divorce in 2015 was because he was “too perfect”.

Caroline Celico married Brazil and AC Milan legend Kaka in 2005 after the two grew up as childhood sweethearts before they called time on their marriage just under 10 years later.

They also had two children together but for the first time, Celico revealed her reasons for why they divorced, citing that she saw herself as a failure in comparison to her former husband.

“I needed to have a lot of courage because I didn’t have a reason like: ‘I was attacked’, I wasn’t; ‘I was betrayed’, I wasn’t,” she said, via The Sun.

“Nothing bad was happening, so why did I have to break up? Why wasn’t I happy? I saw myself more in failure as a person, because I was in a marriage with a very good person, an honest person, a good father.

“But this break in my marriage was necessary for my personal growth.”

Ballon d'Or winner

Kaka one of Brazil’s finest footballers

In a nation with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to footballing talent, Kaka is certainly one of the best in the selection pool.

During his playing days, the midfielder won nine major honours, including the World Cup in 2002.

As well as the Ballon d’Or, Kaka also won league titles with AC Milan and Real Madrid, as well as the Champions League with the former.

Ballon d'Or

Since their divorce, both Kaka and Celico have found new partners.

Kaka recently got engaged to partner Carolina Dias after they began dating back in 2017.

He announced the news on social media saying: “You made me the happiest man on earth! 

“I promise to give you back and make you the happiest woman in the world. I love you.”

Celico meanwhile married Eduardo Scarpa Julião in 2021 and the pair are now expecting their first child together.

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