Milan induct Kaká into Hall of Fame, then beat Inter 3-1 at San Siro

AC Milan welcomed one of their greatest players back to the San Siro on Saturday, inducting Brazilian great Kaka into the club's Hall of Fame before the derby against Inter.

The ceremony came just before kick-off, and the home side marked the occasion with a 3-1 win over their neighbours.

The result ended Inter's unbeaten run in Serie A this season. According to reports, it was also Milan's third straight league win over Inter, and stretched their unbeaten run against their rivals across all competitions to eight games.

From São Paulo to the San Siro

Milan signed Kaka from São Paulo on 15 August 2003, when he was 21, for a fee of $8.5 million. Silvio Berlusconi, the club's owner at the time, described the price as "peanuts."

He quickly justified it. On his competitive debut, his display pushed established names like Rui Costa, Clarence Seedorf and Rivaldo onto the bench.

Across two spells in Milan, Kaka made 307 appearances, scored 104 goals and set up 81 more.

He was part of the Milan side that lost the 2005 Champions League final to Liverpool, then helped the club win the competition in 2007. That same year he won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, and he remains the most recent Milan player to be crowned the world's best.

Before the match, Milan shared a video of his goals against Inter, and Kaka recreated a celebration he often used during his time in Italy.

For Nigerian fans who grew up on Serie A in the 2000s, the night was a reminder of how central Milan's Brazilian No. 22 was to one of Europe's most watchable sides.

What next

The win gives Milan local bragging rights and three points, while Inter will look to respond in their next Serie A match. The Hall of Fame honour also ties Kaká's name to the club long after his playing days.