Kaká Left Off of Brazil’s 23-Man Copa America Roster

Brazil officially announced its 23-man roster for this summer’s Copa America and Orlando City midfielder and captain Kaká is nowhere to be found.

After being named to the country’s preliminary 40-man roster last week, Brazil manager Carlos Dunga has decided against keeping the 34-year-old on the roster for the Copa America, which has been touted as the biggest tournament to come to the United States since the 1994 World Cup.

Like that World Cup, the Copa America is also coming to Orlando and Camping World Stadium (or the Citrus Bowl, whatever you prefer) and Brazil is one of the biggest nations on the schedule. However, they will now be playing against Haiti in the City Beautiful without Neymar or Kaká on June 8. That is obviously not what Orlando was looking for when they were awarded the Brazilian national team coming to town, but Brazil probably wasn't looking to make roster decisions based on who has the most marketing power.

This obviously comes as good news for Orlando City.

Kaká has struggled to stay fit this season due to both groin and thigh strains, and the two-week break in the beginning of June that MLS is taking for the Copa America will be perfect for him to rest and stay fresh as the Lions head into a packed summer schedule.

Orlando City will need as much as they can get from him as the Lions fight to stay above the red line.