"He Has the Face of Milan"
It's not just rhetoric. When Joao Félix signed for the Rossoneri on the final day of the winter transfer window, this was one of the most frequent comments among Milan fans—both on social media and in casual conversations at the local bar. With his clean (almost boyish) face, good-boy hairstyle, and body free of visible tattoos, Joao would likely have appealed to Silvio Berlusconi, the president who brought Ricky Kaká to Milan. "He's the kind of guy every father would want their daughter to marry," Berlusconi once said about the Brazilian star during his golden years at Milan. He would have probably used similar words for Joao. But the resemblance between Kaká and the Portuguese forward isn’t just in their looks. On the pitch, João speaks the same language as Ricky—the one reserved for players of true class.
Joao Felix, Kakà is the idol...
"The player who reminds me most of João? Kaká," Zlatan Ibrahimović responds without hesitation during the presentation of Milan's new Portuguese signing. "The Brazilian was fluid and dynamic, just like João today." The RedBird senior advisor then elaborates: "João enjoys playing tricks with the ball, while Kaká was perhaps more direct. But it's not fair to compare him to others, Félix is a great talent, still young, and he'll carve out his own path here. Yes, he's on loan, but if he does well, anything is possible." That includes staying at Milan beyond the summer. "I feel good here. If there were a chance to stay, I would like that," the player himself echoes. Speaking about the Kaká comparisons, he reveals: "He's my all-time favorite player. I never spoke to him about my move to Milan, but I met him in the U.S. before and even did an interview with him. He's an idol. I can't compare myself to him, but I’d love to do in Milan even a fraction of what he did."
Characteristics
But beyond the general resemblance in appearance, what does João Félix have in common with Kaká? First and foremost, their role. A mix between an attacking midfielder and a forward. Ricky started at Milan as a pure number ten, playing behind Shevchenko and Inzaghi (or Tomasson), before Ancelotti gradually turned him into a kind of second striker—eventually leading him to win the Champions League as the tournament's top scorer and the Ballon d'Or. João is still far from that level, of course, especially in terms of goal-scoring, but under Conceição, he operates between midfield and attack—a bit of a support striker for Giménez and a bit of a playmaker behind the Mexican. "I told him I'd like to play in my role, but I'll do whatever the coach asks of me," Félix explains.
From a purely technical standpoint, the comparison isn’t far-fetched. João has Brazilian blood from his father, and the joga bonito is in his DNA: first-time touches, backheels, delicate chips—all staples of the former Benfica man's game. As Ibra pointed out, Kaká was more pragmatic, an uncharacteristically direct player for a Brazilian star but a perfect example of a modern champion. The paradox? The Portuguese João plays in a less traditionally European style than the Brazilian Kaká.
And here again, Ibra provides an example, referring to Félix’s missed chance in the final minutes against Empoli: "I scolded him because he had already scored against Roma with a chipped shot and tried it again on Saturday. In that moment, you need to score. Magic tricks are fine once in a while, but not always. You have to be ruthless in front of goal and finish the match off."
Where He Needs to Improve
That isn’t the only area where João Félix still has to catch up to the former Ballon d’Or winner. Some limitations—such as his ability to carry the ball forward at full speed—are likely unbridgeable. The Portuguese is lighter and less powerful in his runs compared to his predecessor in the Rossoneri shirt. In that regard, Kaká was a unique phenomenon—accept no imitations.
However, where the former Chelsea man can try to close the gap is in efficiency and mentality. Aside from his extraordinary debut season at Benfica, João Félix has been too inconsistent—showing flashes of true brilliance but also frequent and inexplicable disappearances, at least from an outside perspective. But consistency is the defining trait of great players. If he wants to be considered one—and to make the Kaká comparison seem less far-fetched—he must find it.
Milan could be the perfect place for him to do so. "I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere at San Siro," he says. "I didn’t expect such a warm welcome—you could feel the affection of the fans." If he manages even half the magic Kaká did, he will be remembered in Milan forever.
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport
