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Marcos Evangelista de Morais (born 7 June 1970), known as Cafu (), is a Brazilian former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Defender (association football)#Full-back, right-back. Known for his pace and energetic attacking runs along the right flank, he is regarded as one of the greatest full-backs of all time, one of the best defenders ever to play in Serie A, and as one of the greatest Brazilian and South American players of his generation. He is also the Brazil national football team#Most capped players, most-capped player for the Brazil national football team, Brazil national team with 142 appearances.
At club level, Cafu won several domestic and international titles while playing in Brazil, Spain and Italy; he is best known for his spells at São Paulo FC, São Paulo, A.S. Roma, Roma and A.C. Milan, AC Milan, teams with which he made history, although he also played for Real Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Esporte Clube Juventude, Juventude and Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, Palmeiras throughout his career. In 1994, Cafu was crowned South American Footballer of the Year, and in 2004, was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. He was additionally named to the FIFPro#Awards, FIFPro World XI in 2005, and in 2020 was included in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team#First Team, Ballon d'Or Dream Team.
Cafu represented his nation in four FIFA World Cups between 1994 and 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2006, and is the only player in history to have appeared in three World Cup finals, both overall and consecutive, winning the 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1994 and 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2002 editions of the tournament, the latter as his team's Captain (association football), captain where he lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy, World Cup trophy. With Brazil, he also took part in four editions of the Copa América, winning the title twice, in 1997 Copa América, 1997 and 1999 Copa América, 1999; he was also a member of the national side that won the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup.
It was during this time, however, that São Paulo youth coach Telê Santana became Cafu's mentor. He suggested that Cafu move from wingback to midfield, a spot into which Cafu made the transition with ease despite never previously playing the position. He had soon anchored onto the first team, as São Paulo won back-to-back Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup (football), World Championships in 1992 and 1993. In 1994, he was named the South American Footballer of the Year. Halfway through the 1994–95 Real Zaragoza season, 1994–95 season, Cafu joined Spanish side Real Zaragoza, winning the 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Cup Winners' Cup with them (though he had injury issues and did not play in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final, final). He then left Zaragoza to join Brazilian club Esporte Clube Juventude, Juventude.
After a brief stint back in Brazil with Palmeiras in 1996, Cafu returned to Europe once again the next year, this time with A.S. Roma, Roma, and won the ''List of Italian football champions, Scudetto'' in 2000–01 Serie A, 2001, followed by the 2001 Supercoppa Italiana, Supercoppa Italiana. It was during his tenure at Roma that Cafu earned the nickname ''Pendolino, Il Pendolino'' ("The Express Train" or "The Commuter"). Despite making the Coppa Italia final in 2003 Coppa Italia Final, 2003 with Roma, he moved to A.C. Milan, AC Milan, after turning down a move to Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos. With the ''Rossoneri'', he won his second career 2003–04 Serie A, Scudetto in 2004, followed by his second 2004 Supercoppa Italiana, Supercoppa Italiana, and he played in his first 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, UEFA Champions League final in 2005. The following season, he made fewer appearances for Milan due to injury and difficulties in his personal life.
Despite his success with Milan, he continued to hold fond memories of his Roma years, and it was for that reason that on 4 March 2007 – the day after Milan eliminated Celtic F.C., Celtic in the first knockout round of the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League – he candidly revealed in a UEFA.com chat that he did not want Milan to be drawn against the ''Giallorossi'' in the quarter-final round. He got his wish, as Milan were drawn against FC Bayern Munich, Bayern Munich. Milan's successful 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, Champions League campaign saw Cafu finally pick up a long-awaited winners' medal, in a rematch of the 2005 final.
Cafu signed a contract extension in May 2007 that would keep him with Milan until the end of the 2007–08 season, during which he won another UEFA Supercup, and his third world title at club level and now his first 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup. On 16 May 2008, it was announced that Cafu and compatriot Serginho (footballer, born 1971), Serginho would be leaving Milan at the end of the season. In Cafu's last game of his Milan career, and of his professional career, he scored a goal in their 4–1 victory over Udinese Calcio, Udinese. Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani stated that the door would be open to him to return to work for the club.
He is a member of the A.C. Milan, AC Milan and the A.S. Roma Hall of Fame, Roma Hall of Fames.
Cafu is the most-cap (sport), capped Brazil national football team, Brazilian men's player of all time with 142 appearances, including a record 20 FIFA World Cup, World Cup games. He has won two World Cups in 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1994 and 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2002, as well as being the only player to participate in three World Cup final matches. Cafu also held the record of winning the most matches in World Cups with 15 (along with two games Brazil won on penalties), before being surpassed by Germany national football team, Germany's Miroslav Klose in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2014 World Cup.
He earned his first cap in a friendly against Spain national football team, Spain on 12 September 1990, and played sparingly for Brazil in the early 1990s, making the 1994 World Cup roster as a substitute. He appeared in the final against Italy national football team, Italy, following an injury to Jorginho (footballer, born 1964), Jorginho in the 22nd minute. After that, Cafu was soon a regular in the starting eleven as Brazil won the Copa América in 1997 Copa América, 1997 and 1999 Copa América, 1999, the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, and reached the 1998 FIFA World Cup, 1998 World Cup 1998 FIFA World Cup Final, final.
Brazil endured a rocky qualification for the 2002 tournament, during which Cafu came under heavy criticism from coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who stripped him of the team captaincy after he was sent off in a qualifier against Paraguay national football team, Paraguay. Shortly after that, however, Luxemburgo was out of a job, and replacement Luiz Felipe Scolari made Emerson (footballer, born 1976), Emerson his new choice for captain. However, Emerson missed the cut after he dislocated his shoulder in training, which allowed Cafu to regain the armband. After Brazil defeated Germany 2–0 in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final, final match (Cafu's third consecutive World Cup final), he stood on the victory podium during the postmatch celebration and, as he raised the FIFA World Cup Trophy, World Cup trophy, shouted to his wife, ''"Regina, eu te amo!"'' ("Regina, I love you!").
Cafu and Brazil fell short of high expectations placed on the squad four years later in 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2006, as Brazil meekly exited in the quarter-finals after a 1–0 defeat by France national football team, France. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was criticized for featuring fading veterans, most notably the 36-year-old Cafu and 33-year-old Roberto Carlos, in the starting XI in lieu of younger players. Cafu was one of only a few Brazil players who spoke to the press in the midst of a hailstorm of criticism from Brazilian fans and media alike following the team's return home. He nonetheless expressed interest in participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2010 World Cup; however he did not, as he retired completely from football in 2008.
Regarded as one of the greatest full-backs of all time, one of the best footballers of his generation, and as one of Brazil's best ever players, Cafu was a dynamic, hard-working, offensive-minded, and energetic right-sided wing-back (association football), wing-back who is mostly remembered for his great pace, stamina, tactical intelligence, distribution, and technical skills, as well as his ability to make overlapping attacking runs down the right flank and provide accurate Cross (football), crosses to teammates in the area.
In addition to his footballing ability, he was also known for his discipline, leadership and his characteristically cheerful demeanour. Although he usually played as an attacking right-back, he was also capable of playing as a centre back, due to his defensive skills, or in more advanced positions, and was often deployed as a right winger (association football), right winger. During his time in Italy, he was given the nickname ''Pendolino'', after the country's express trains.
Official Cafu Foundation site
Cafu profile by Aaron Marcus
– acmilan-online.com
Career stats
– acmilan.com * * {{navboxes colour , title=Brazil squads , bg= #FEDF00 , fg= #009B3A , bordercolor= #002776 , list1= {{Brazil squad 1991 Copa América {{Brazil squad 1993 Copa América {{Brazil squad 1994 FIFA World Cup {{Brazil squad 1997 Copa América {{Brazil squad 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup {{Brazil squad 1998 FIFA World Cup {{Brazil squad 1999 Copa América {{Brazil squad 2002 FIFA World Cup {{Brazil squad 2006 FIFA World Cup Living people 1970 births Footballers from São Paulo Association football fullbacks Brazilian footballers Brazilian expatriate footballers Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Spain Brazil international footballers São Paulo FC players Real Zaragoza players Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras players A.S. Roma players A.C. Milan players Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players La Liga players Serie A players Expatriate footballers in Spain Expatriate footballers in Italy FIFA 100 FIFA Century Club 1991 Copa América players 1993 Copa América players 1994 FIFA World Cup players 1997 Copa América players 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup players 1998 FIFA World Cup players 1999 Copa América players 2002 FIFA World Cup players 2006 FIFA World Cup players FIFA World Cup-winning players FIFA World Cup-winning captains FIFA Confederations Cup-winning players Copa América-winning players Brazilian emigrants to Italy Naturalised citizens of Italy South American Footballer of the Year winners UEFA Champions League winning players Afro-Brazilian sportspeople Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Early life
One of six children, Cafu was raised in the Jardim Irene favela of São Paulo. At the age of seven, he was able to attend a football academy and soon moved up to the junior sides of Nacional Atlético Clube (SP), Nacional-SP, Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, Portuguesa and Itaquaquecetuba. He also played futsal for two years. In the early 1980s, he was rejected from the youth squads of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, Corinthians, Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, Palmeiras, Santos F.C., Santos, Clube Atlético Mineiro, Atlético Mineiro and Portuguesa, but it was not until 1988 that he made the youth squad of hometown club São Paulo FC, São Paulo, and subsequently won the ''Copa São Paulo'' youth tournament that year, but he did not play during the next season as São Paulo won the 1989 Campeonato Paulista.Club career
It was during this time, however, that São Paulo youth coach Telê Santana became Cafu's mentor. He suggested that Cafu move from wingback to midfield, a spot into which Cafu made the transition with ease despite never previously playing the position. He had soon anchored onto the first team, as São Paulo won back-to-back Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup (football), World Championships in 1992 and 1993. In 1994, he was named the South American Footballer of the Year. Halfway through the 1994–95 Real Zaragoza season, 1994–95 season, Cafu joined Spanish side Real Zaragoza, winning the 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Cup Winners' Cup with them (though he had injury issues and did not play in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final, final). He then left Zaragoza to join Brazilian club Esporte Clube Juventude, Juventude.
After a brief stint back in Brazil with Palmeiras in 1996, Cafu returned to Europe once again the next year, this time with A.S. Roma, Roma, and won the ''List of Italian football champions, Scudetto'' in 2000–01 Serie A, 2001, followed by the 2001 Supercoppa Italiana, Supercoppa Italiana. It was during his tenure at Roma that Cafu earned the nickname ''Pendolino, Il Pendolino'' ("The Express Train" or "The Commuter"). Despite making the Coppa Italia final in 2003 Coppa Italia Final, 2003 with Roma, he moved to A.C. Milan, AC Milan, after turning down a move to Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos. With the ''Rossoneri'', he won his second career 2003–04 Serie A, Scudetto in 2004, followed by his second 2004 Supercoppa Italiana, Supercoppa Italiana, and he played in his first 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, UEFA Champions League final in 2005. The following season, he made fewer appearances for Milan due to injury and difficulties in his personal life.
Despite his success with Milan, he continued to hold fond memories of his Roma years, and it was for that reason that on 4 March 2007 – the day after Milan eliminated Celtic F.C., Celtic in the first knockout round of the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League – he candidly revealed in a UEFA.com chat that he did not want Milan to be drawn against the ''Giallorossi'' in the quarter-final round. He got his wish, as Milan were drawn against FC Bayern Munich, Bayern Munich. Milan's successful 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, Champions League campaign saw Cafu finally pick up a long-awaited winners' medal, in a rematch of the 2005 final.
Cafu signed a contract extension in May 2007 that would keep him with Milan until the end of the 2007–08 season, during which he won another UEFA Supercup, and his third world title at club level and now his first 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup. On 16 May 2008, it was announced that Cafu and compatriot Serginho (footballer, born 1971), Serginho would be leaving Milan at the end of the season. In Cafu's last game of his Milan career, and of his professional career, he scored a goal in their 4–1 victory over Udinese Calcio, Udinese. Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani stated that the door would be open to him to return to work for the club.
He is a member of the A.C. Milan, AC Milan and the A.S. Roma Hall of Fame, Roma Hall of Fames.
Passport controversy
Cafu was accused along with several other Serie A players, including Roma teammate Fábio Júnior (footballer, born 1977), Fábio Júnior and Gustavo Bartelt, countryman and later Milan teammate Dida (footballer, born 1973), Dida, of using a forged passport in their attempt to dodge regulations regarding the number of non-European players allowed on Italian club rosters. However, the charge was cleared by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) as Cafu's Italian passport was real and issued by Italian officials, but 13 others – including Dida – were banned. But Cafu faced another controversy that similar to Juan Sebastián Verón, accused that Cafu's wife, Regina used falsified documents to claim Italian nationality through Italian descent. Cafu acquired Italian nationality through marriage. In 2004, Cafu and Roma club president Franco Sensi went to court. On 12 June 2006, less than 24 hours before Brazil were to begin their 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2006 World Cup campaign against Croatia national football team, Croatia, Rome prosecutor Angelantonio Racanelli called for the imprisonment of Cafu, his wife and his agent for nine months following the resurfacing of a false-passport scandal. The very next day, however, Cafu, his wife and agent were acquitted of all charges.International career
Cafu is the most-cap (sport), capped Brazil national football team, Brazilian men's player of all time with 142 appearances, including a record 20 FIFA World Cup, World Cup games. He has won two World Cups in 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1994 and 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2002, as well as being the only player to participate in three World Cup final matches. Cafu also held the record of winning the most matches in World Cups with 15 (along with two games Brazil won on penalties), before being surpassed by Germany national football team, Germany's Miroslav Klose in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2014 World Cup.
He earned his first cap in a friendly against Spain national football team, Spain on 12 September 1990, and played sparingly for Brazil in the early 1990s, making the 1994 World Cup roster as a substitute. He appeared in the final against Italy national football team, Italy, following an injury to Jorginho (footballer, born 1964), Jorginho in the 22nd minute. After that, Cafu was soon a regular in the starting eleven as Brazil won the Copa América in 1997 Copa América, 1997 and 1999 Copa América, 1999, the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, and reached the 1998 FIFA World Cup, 1998 World Cup 1998 FIFA World Cup Final, final.
Brazil endured a rocky qualification for the 2002 tournament, during which Cafu came under heavy criticism from coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who stripped him of the team captaincy after he was sent off in a qualifier against Paraguay national football team, Paraguay. Shortly after that, however, Luxemburgo was out of a job, and replacement Luiz Felipe Scolari made Emerson (footballer, born 1976), Emerson his new choice for captain. However, Emerson missed the cut after he dislocated his shoulder in training, which allowed Cafu to regain the armband. After Brazil defeated Germany 2–0 in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final, final match (Cafu's third consecutive World Cup final), he stood on the victory podium during the postmatch celebration and, as he raised the FIFA World Cup Trophy, World Cup trophy, shouted to his wife, ''"Regina, eu te amo!"'' ("Regina, I love you!").
Cafu and Brazil fell short of high expectations placed on the squad four years later in 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2006, as Brazil meekly exited in the quarter-finals after a 1–0 defeat by France national football team, France. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was criticized for featuring fading veterans, most notably the 36-year-old Cafu and 33-year-old Roberto Carlos, in the starting XI in lieu of younger players. Cafu was one of only a few Brazil players who spoke to the press in the midst of a hailstorm of criticism from Brazilian fans and media alike following the team's return home. He nonetheless expressed interest in participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2010 World Cup; however he did not, as he retired completely from football in 2008.
Style of play
Regarded as one of the greatest full-backs of all time, one of the best footballers of his generation, and as one of Brazil's best ever players, Cafu was a dynamic, hard-working, offensive-minded, and energetic right-sided wing-back (association football), wing-back who is mostly remembered for his great pace, stamina, tactical intelligence, distribution, and technical skills, as well as his ability to make overlapping attacking runs down the right flank and provide accurate Cross (football), crosses to teammates in the area.
In addition to his footballing ability, he was also known for his discipline, leadership and his characteristically cheerful demeanour. Although he usually played as an attacking right-back, he was also capable of playing as a centre back, due to his defensive skills, or in more advanced positions, and was often deployed as a right winger (association football), right winger. During his time in Italy, he was given the nickname ''Pendolino'', after the country's express trains.
Personal life
Cafu is separated from his wife Regina Feliciano, who he married in 1987. The couple have three children together: two sons (Danilo and Wellington) and a daughter (Michelle). On 4 September 2019, Danilo suffered a heart attack whilst playing football at his family home, after complaining about feeling unwell. Danilo was taken to hospital, where he later died.Career statistics
Club
International
:''Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cafu goal.''Honours
São Paulo * Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1991 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, 1991 * Campeonato Paulista: Campeonato Paulista, 1991, Campeonato Paulista, 1992 * Copa CONMEBOL: 1994 Copa CONMEBOL, 1994 * Copa Libertadores: 1992 Copa Libertadores, 1992, 1993 Copa Libertadores, 1993 * Supercopa Sudamericana: 1993 Supercopa Sudamericana, 1993 * Recopa Sudamericana: 1993 Recopa Sudamericana, 1993, 1994 Recopa Sudamericana, 1994 * Intercontinental Cup (football), Intercontinental Cup: 1992 Intercontinental Cup, 1992, 1993 Intercontinental Cup, 1993 Real Zaragoza * UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, 1994–95 Palmeiras * Campeonato Paulista: Campeonato Paulista, 1996 Roma * Serie A: 2000–01 Serie A, 2000–01 AC Milan * Serie A: 2003–04 Serie A, 2003–04 * Supercoppa Italiana: 2004 Supercoppa Italiana, 2004 * UEFA Champions League: 2006–07 UEFA Champions League, 2006–07 * UEFA Super Cup: 2003 UEFA Super Cup, 2003, 2007 UEFA Super Cup, 2007 * FIFA Club World Cup: 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, 2007 ;Brazil * FIFA World Cup: 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1994, 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2002 * Copa América: 1997 Copa América, 1997, 1999 Copa América, 1999 * FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup, 1997 Individual * South American Team of the Year: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 * South American Footballer of the Year: South American Footballer of the Year, 1994 * FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002 (Reserve) * FIFA 100 * UEFA Team of the Year: 2004, 2005 * FIFPro World XI: 2005 * List of 2009 all-decade Sports Illustrated awards and honors#Association football All-Decade Team, Sports Illustrated Team of the Decade: 2009 * ESPN, ESPN World Team of the Decade: 2009 * A.S. Roma Hall of Fame: 2012 * World Soccer Greatest XI of all time: 2013 * AC Milan Hall of Fame * World XI: Team of the 21st Century * Ballon d'Or Dream Team#First Team, Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020 * International Federation of Football History & Statistics#All-time Men's Dream Team (2021), IFFHS All-time Men's Dream Team: 2021 *IFFHS World Team#All-time Men's Dream Team (2021), IFFHS South America Men's Team of All Time: 2021Orders
* Officer of the Order of Rio Branco: 2008See also
*List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps, List of footballers with 100 or more capsReferences
External links
*Official Cafu Foundation site
Cafu profile by Aaron Marcus
– acmilan-online.com
Career stats
– acmilan.com * * {{navboxes colour , title=Brazil squads , bg= #FEDF00 , fg= #009B3A , bordercolor= #002776 , list1= {{Brazil squad 1991 Copa América {{Brazil squad 1993 Copa América {{Brazil squad 1994 FIFA World Cup {{Brazil squad 1997 Copa América {{Brazil squad 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup {{Brazil squad 1998 FIFA World Cup {{Brazil squad 1999 Copa América {{Brazil squad 2002 FIFA World Cup {{Brazil squad 2006 FIFA World Cup Living people 1970 births Footballers from São Paulo Association football fullbacks Brazilian footballers Brazilian expatriate footballers Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Spain Brazil international footballers São Paulo FC players Real Zaragoza players Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras players A.S. Roma players A.C. Milan players Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players La Liga players Serie A players Expatriate footballers in Spain Expatriate footballers in Italy FIFA 100 FIFA Century Club 1991 Copa América players 1993 Copa América players 1994 FIFA World Cup players 1997 Copa América players 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup players 1998 FIFA World Cup players 1999 Copa América players 2002 FIFA World Cup players 2006 FIFA World Cup players FIFA World Cup-winning players FIFA World Cup-winning captains FIFA Confederations Cup-winning players Copa América-winning players Brazilian emigrants to Italy Naturalised citizens of Italy South American Footballer of the Year winners UEFA Champions League winning players Afro-Brazilian sportspeople Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Italy