Orlando's Kaka sidelined for 6 weeks with hamstring strain

Orlando City will be without captain and star attacker Kaka for around six weeks as the Brazilian recovers from Grade 1 and 2 strains of his left hamstring, the club confirmed to theScore.

Kaka picked up the injury just eight minutes into the Lions' 2017 season debut, twisting awkwardly as he ran into a pair of New York City FC defenders while attempting a run into the box. He was replaced by Giles Barnes in the 11th minute.

Orlando City head coach Jason Kreis was disappointed for his star man, who could not see out the full 90 minutes as the team made its bow at the newly minted Orlando City Stadium.

"On another night I think I would've been a lot more phased but I think I was just ready to move on, make a decision and get somebody else on the field," Kreis said after the match, as quoted in a club-issued release.

Kreis added, "(Kaka's) worked extremely hard in the offseason and hard in the preseason. Really disappointed for him. This could've been a huge night for him. I think everyone could see the energy he was already putting into the game in those 11 minutes. I thought this was going to be a special night for him."

It's just the latest in a series of injuries that have hampered the Ballon d'Or winner; Kaka suffered a groin injury in each of his last two seasons with the Lions, along with muscle, thigh, and leg injuries that have seen him miss more than 80 days over the last two years.