Greatest XI of the last 25 years

#2 Right Back: Cafu

Cafu is the only player to have appeared in three consecutive World Cup finals

Brazil have been a dominant force ever since professional football came to the fore. And in their rich illustrious history on the international scene, they have been blessed with some incredible wing backs who have revolutionised the position. Ranging from the great Carlos Alberto of the legendary ‘70s Selecao squad to the skillful Dani Alves of the modern game, the Samba land have had icons who mastered their craft on the wide positions.

But amongst all of them, Cafu is one name that distinctively stands out as one of the greatest that the game has ever seen; evident from the consistency he displayed in terms of both performances and accolades that he garnered over a two-decade long career.

Gifted with flair in his boots and a unique eye to read his surroundings, Cafu redefined the position of a wing back. Beginning his career in Sao Paulo’s youth team back in 1990, Cafu anchored himself in the right-back position and went on to feature for the national side in three World Cups. He became the only player to feature in three World Cup finals and won the tournament in 1994 and 2002, captaining the latter squad.

In terms of club football, Cafu’s first major signing for a European club came in 1997 when he penned down a deal with Italian outfit AS Roma. With Roma, he won a Scudetto in 2001 and also bagged his first SuperCoppa Italiana with i Giallorossi. After his tenure with Roma, he completed a move to the San Siro and won his second Scudetto and his first Champions League medal with Italian giants AC Milan.

Cafu concluded his glorious career in Milan as he bid farewell to professional football in 2008.