Cafu

The only player in history to play in three consecutive World Cup finals and lift the trophy twice as captain.

Marcos Evangelista de Morais, known as Cafu, is the most-capped player in Brazil national team history with 142 appearances. Widely regarded as one of the greatest full-backs ever, he defined the right-flank role through his pace and energetic attacking runs. Cafu stands alone as the only player to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals (1994, 1998, 2002). He lifted the trophy twice, first in 1994 and again in 2002 as team captain, becoming one of just 21 players to win the World Cup more than once. His international career also included two Copa América titles (1997, 1999) and a 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup victory.

Quick Facts

Full name: Marcos Evangelista de Morais
Born: 7 June 1970
Birthplace: Itaquaquecetuba, São Paulo, Brazil
Height: 1.76 m / 5 ft 9 in
Position: Right-back
Total caps: 557
Total goals: 44

Lore & Background

Cafu's journey to glory began with a rocky start; he was rejected by Corinthians, Palmeiras, Santos, and others before joining São Paulo's youth squad in 1988. His international breakthrough came on 12 September 1990 against Spain. In the 1994 World Cup, he entered as a substitute following an injury to Jorginho in the final against Italy, securing his first title. By 1997 and 1999, Cafu was a regular starter, leading Brazil to back-to-back Copa América victories and a Confederations Cup win. The 2002 World Cup brought turbulence; coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo stripped him of the captaincy after a red card against Paraguay, replacing him with Emerson. When Emerson suffered a dislocated shoulder in training, Cafu reclaimed the armband. In the final against Germany, he stood on the podium as captain, raising the trophy and shouting to his wife, "Regina, eu te amo!" ("Regina, I love you!").

Reader's Guide

Cafu revolutionized the right-back position by transitioning from right midfield to wingback under mentor Telê Santana at São Paulo. He combined defensive duties with relentless attacking overlaps, a style he perfected over 142 caps. His record includes 20 World Cup games and 15 wins in the tournament before Miroslav Klose surpassed his win count in 2014. Fans should note that while Cafu played in four World Cups (1994–2006), he is unique for appearing in three consecutive finals. His leadership was pivotal; he captained Brazil to the 2002 title and secured two Copa América crowns. On the pitch, his stamina allowed him to dominate the flank for nearly a decade at the highest level. Off it, he navigated controversies, including a passport scandal cleared by Italian officials in 2006 just before the World Cup began against Croatia.

Did You Know?

He scored a goal in his very last professional game, a 4–1 victory over Udinese for AC Milan on 16 May 2008.
In the 2002 World Cup final, Cafu wrote "100% Jardim Irene" on his shirt to honor his upbringing.
Cafu was named in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players by Pelé in 2004.