Cafu is one of football’s greatest right-backs after a trophy-laden career and helping Brazil to secure global glory, but how many World Cups did he play in and how many did he win?
The Sao Paulo native developed a reputation for his rampaging runs up the channel over a 19 year spell. Even up to his final appearance for AC Milan in 2008 at 38, Cafu continued to use his immense pace and energetic approach to demonstrate a sublime attacking ability.
Cafu’s career saw the defender ply his trade in Brazil, Spain and Italy, and he even enjoyed a brief stint in the English non-league with Garforth Town. His best days came in the shirts of Sao Paulo, Roma and AC Milan, though, along with a vastly successful international run.
No player has earned more intentional caps for Brazil than Cafu did, after the 52-year-old represented his nation 142 times. His 16 year international career eclipses the caps earned by fellow great Roberto Carlos (125), plus current stars Dani Alves (124) and Neymar (119).
At the domestic level, Cafu also boasts a trophy haul to make many of the game’s top stars jealous. The full-back left his hometown side Sao Paulo after three top-flight titles and two Copa Libertadores crowns, before winning one Serie A title with both Roma and AC Milan.
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His San Siro spell also saw Cafu help the Rossoneri win the Champions League in 2006/07. While internationally, the Brazilian legend featured as the Selecao won the Copa America twice and one Confederations Cup along with the nation’s success at multiple World Cups.
Cafu played in first World Cup in 1994 to help Brazil win big in America
Cafu played in his first World Cup in 1994 and helped Brazil go on to win big in America for the Selecao’s fourth title. Yet the defender would only play in three of his country’s seven ties at the tournament and he did not open any tie, despite playing 99 minutes in the final.
Carlos Alberto Parreira elected to leave Cafu on the bench for each of Brazil’s group stage games against Russia, Cameroon and Sweden. He would then only give the full-back brief cameo appearances during their last 16 and quarter-final wins over the USA and Sweden.
But an early issue for Jorginho 21 minutes into the final with Italy saw Parreira call Cafu’s number. It would prove to be his big break at a World Cup finals, and would enjoy almost 100 minutes of action as the match went to penalties before Brazil emerged victorious 3-2.
Cafu unable to help Brazil win back-to-back World Cups in 1998 final defeat
Cafu would head to the 1998 World Cup in France as the undisputed first-choice right-back in Brazil’s plans. He opened each of the Selecao’s group stage ties as Mario Zagallo’s side beat Scotland and Morocco before losing to Norway, who finished runners-up in Group A.
The Sao Paulo product helped to beat Morocco, as well, with his first assist at a World Cup finals after finding Rivaldo with a cross. But yellow cards against Chile and Denmark in the last 16 and quarter-final cost Cafu his place in their semi-final victory over the Netherlands.
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Brazil needed penalties to overcome Holland at the penultimate stage and seal a date with France in the final. Cafu would return to face the host nation at the Stade de France in July, 1998. But his presence at right-back failed to prevent Les Bleus from winning a first crown.
Cafu sealed second World Cup win as Brazil captain in 2002
Cafu sealed his second World Cup win in 2002, as the defender led Brazil to global glory in South Korea and Japan. He kept the Selecao’s captaincy after Vanderlei Luxemburgo gave the full-back the armband following Dunga retiring immediately after the 1998 World Cup.
The 2002 edition was the first and only World Cup in which Cafu played in every game and every minute. He also offered one assist during the group stage to help inspire a 4-0 result against China, with Cafu’s cross finding Ronaldo Nazario’s left boot for Brazil’s fourth goal.
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China marked Brazil’s second opponent during what would be a perfect tournament under Luiz Felipe Scolari. The Selecao opened the edition with victory over Turkey, before sealing further wins over Costa Rica, Belgium, England, Turkey again and Germany come the final.
Cafu played in final tournament in 2006 as Selecao struggled in Germany
Cafu would play in his final World Cup at the 2006 edition in Germany, but the Selecao did not return to South America victorious. Instead, Parreira’s return to the helm saw his team struggle, and crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals as defending champions.
On a personal level, Cafu started the tournament well after assisting Kaka for the only goal to beat Croatia. But a yellow card in game two against Australia saw Parreira drop the full-back against Japan to avoid a suspension and Cafu returned to assist in a win over Ghana.
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But a repeat of the 1998 World Cup final followed in the quarter-final, as France again had Brazil’s number. Thierry Henry lashed in from a Zinedine Zidane free-kick to score the only goal and seal another win for Les Bleus in the last World Cup game that Cafu would play in.
So, Cafu’s total World Cup finals tally for games played in would stand at 20, along with his two tournament wins, before calling time internationally after losing to France in the 2006 edition. He also stands alone as the only player to play in the World Cup final three times.
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