Cafu facts for kids
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Cafu at the 2019 Copa América
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Marcos Evangelista de Morais | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 7 June 1970 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Itaquaquecetuba, São Paulo, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Right-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nacional-SP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portuguesa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1990 | São Paulo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989–1995 | São Paulo | 216 | (33) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Real Zaragoza | 16 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Juventude | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | Palmeiras | 41 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2003 | Roma | 163 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2008 | AC Milan | 119 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 559 | (44) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–2006 | Brazil | 142 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Marcos Evangelista de Morais (born on June 7, 1970), known as Cafu, is a famous Brazilian former professional footballer. He played as a right-back. Many people think he is one of the best full-backs ever. He was known for his amazing speed and powerful runs down the right side of the field.
Cafu is the player with the most appearances for the Brazil national team, playing 142 games! He won many important titles with his clubs in Brazil, Spain, and Italy. He is most famous for playing with São Paulo, Roma, and AC Milan. He also played for Zaragoza, Juventude, and Palmeiras.
In 1994, Cafu was named the best South American Footballer of the Year. In 2004, the legendary player Pelé included him in the FIFA 100 list, which named the world's greatest living players. He was also part of the FIFPro World XI in 2005 and the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2020.
Cafu played for Brazil in four FIFA World Cups between 1994 and 2006. He is the only player in history to have played in three World Cup finals! He won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002. In 2002, he was the team's captain and lifted the World Cup trophy. With Brazil, he also won the Copa América twice (in 1997 and 1999) and the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Cafu grew up in a neighborhood called Jardim Irene in São Paulo, Brazil. He was one of six children. When he was seven, he started attending a football academy. He quickly moved up to play for youth teams like Nacional-SP and Portuguesa. He also played futsal, which is a type of indoor football, for two years.
As a child, he got the nickname 'Cafu' because he reminded people of another Brazilian player named Cafuringa. In the early 1980s, some big clubs like Corinthians and Palmeiras didn't pick him for their youth teams. But in 1988, he finally joined the youth squad of his hometown club, São Paulo. That year, he helped São Paulo win a youth tournament called the Copa São Paulo.
Cafu's Club Career Highlights
At São Paulo, a youth coach named Telê Santana became Cafu's guide. He suggested that Cafu change his position from right midfield to wingback. Cafu learned this new role easily, even though he had never played it before. He soon became a key player for the main team. São Paulo won the Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup two years in a row, in 1992 and 1993. In 1994, he was named the best footballer in South America.
After São Paulo, Cafu moved to Spain to play for Real Zaragoza in 1995. He helped them win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup that year. After a short time back in Brazil with Palmeiras, Cafu returned to Europe in 1997. This time, he joined Roma in Italy.
Success in Italy: Roma and Milan
With Roma, Cafu won the Scudetto, which is the Italian league title, in 2001. During his time at Roma, fans gave him the nickname Il Pendolino, meaning "The Express Train." This was because of his fast and powerful runs up and down the field.
In 2003, Cafu moved to AC Milan, another big Italian club. With Milan, he won his second Scudetto in 2004. He also won the Supercoppa Italiana and played in his first UEFA Champions League final in 2005. The Champions League is Europe's biggest club competition.
Cafu finally won the Champions League with Milan in 2007. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and his first FIFA Club World Cup with Milan. In May 2008, Cafu announced he would be leaving Milan and retiring from professional football. In his very last game, he even scored a goal! Cafu is now a member of the Hall of Fame for both AC Milan and AS Roma.
International Career with Brazil
Cafu is the player who has played the most games for the Brazilian men's team, with 142 appearances. He also holds the record for playing in 20 World Cup matches. He won two World Cups, in 1994 and 2002. He is the only player ever to play in three World Cup final matches!
He played his first game for Brazil in 1990. In the 1994 World Cup, he was a substitute. He came into the final match against Italy after another player got injured, and Brazil went on to win! After that, Cafu became a regular starter for Brazil. He helped them win the Copa América in 1997 and 1999, and the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. Brazil also reached the 1998 World Cup final.
Brazil had a tough time qualifying for the 2002 World Cup. At one point, Cafu even lost his captaincy. But before the World Cup, the new coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, made him captain again after another player got injured. Brazil went on to win the 2002 World Cup by beating Germany 2-0 in the final. When Cafu lifted the World Cup trophy, he famously shouted to his wife, "Regina, eu te amo!" (meaning "Regina, I love you!"). He also had "100% Jardim Irene" on his shirt to honor where he grew up.
In the 2006 World Cup, Brazil didn't do as well and lost in the quarter-finals to France. Cafu was one of the few players who spoke to the media after the team returned home, facing a lot of criticism from fans.
Cafu's Style of Play
Cafu is considered one of the best full-backs of all time. He was a very active and energetic player who played on the right side of the field. He was known for his incredible speed, amazing stamina, and smart way of playing. He was also very good at passing the ball and had great technical skills.
He was famous for his "overlapping runs," which meant he would run forward down the right side to help in attack and send accurate crosses into the penalty area for his teammates. Besides his football skills, he was also known for being disciplined, a great leader, and always cheerful. Even though he usually played as an attacking right-back, he could also play as a centre back (a more defensive role) or even as a right winger (a more attacking role). His nickname in Italy, Pendolino, perfectly described his fast style of play.
Honours and Awards
Cafu won many important titles and awards throughout his career:
São Paulo
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1991
- Campeonato Paulista: 1991, 1992
- Copa Libertadores: 1992, 1993
- Supercopa Libertadores: 1993
- Recopa Sudamericana: 1993, 1994
- Intercontinental Cup: 1992, 1993
Real Zaragoza
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1994–95
Palmeiras
- Campeonato Paulista: 1996
Roma
- Serie A: 2000–01
AC Milan
- Serie A: 2003–04
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2004
- UEFA Champions League: 2006–07
- UEFA Super Cup: 2003, 2007
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2007
- Brazil
- FIFA World Cup: 1994, 2002 (and runner-up in 1998)
- Copa América: 1997, 1999
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997
Individual Awards
- South American Team of the Year: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
- South American Footballer of the Year: 1994
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002 (Reserve)
- FIFA 100 (list of greatest living players chosen by Pelé)
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2004, 2005
- FIFPro World XI: 2005
- AS Roma Hall of Fame: 2012
- AC Milan Hall of Fame
- Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020
Images for kids
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Cafu at the 2019 Copa América
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Cafu playing for AC Milan
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Cafu training with Brazil before the 2006 World Cup
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Cafu at a Gillette promotion with Brazil in 2010
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Cafu (pictured with Milan in 2007) was known for his great ability to attack and defend as a right back
