Name: Marcos Evangelista de Moraes (better known as 'Cafu') Born: 7th June 1970, Position: Right Back, Right Wing Back Clubs: Sao Paulo, Esporte Clube Juventude, Real Zaragoza, Palmeiras, AS Roma and AC Milan Country: Brazil
Major Honours: FIFA World Cup (1994, 2002), Copa América (1997, 1999), FIFA Confederations Cup (1997), Copa Libertadores (1992, 1993), Intercontinental Cup (1992, 1993), Recopa Sudamericana (1993), UEFA Cup Winners Cup (1995), UEFA Super Cup (2003, 2007), UEFA Champions League (2007), FIFA Club World Cup (2007), Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (1991), Italian Serie A (2001, 2004), Italian Super Cup (2004) and he was the South American Footballer of the Year (1994) Relevant Career Statistics: 156 caps and 5 goals for Brazil and has played over a 100 times each for Sao Paulo, AS Roma and AC Milan.
Admitted to the Hall of Fame: August 2007 with 27% of the votes.
Roy of the Rovers References:   None
Internet Links: There are a number of web pages dedicated to Cafu. The profile of Cafu on the Internet's best and free encyclopaedia. This page also give links to other references to this hall of famer. You Tube tribute -.  set to the song "I won't back down" - by Tom Petty including some brilliant tackles, great strength and some sublime skill, the best right back ever! Cafu's Profile -  Football Database.com provide an in depth profile on Cafu. Another Profile on Cafu  - AC Milan on-line provide a very in depth look at Cafu's career.. Official Profile  - AC Milan's Official website provide a write up on their star player.

Cafu is the famous Brazilian World Cup winning captain who excelled for many years for his national team and in the Italian Serie A as a right-back or right-wing-back.  In fact he played like a wing-back even if selected as part of a back four, thanks to his tremendous stamina and speed as well as his skill on the ball and clever 'football brain'.  His enjoyment for the game throughout his career has been as obvious as his abilities - his dynamic play down the right of the pitch highlighting his enthusiasm thanks to which he was often virtually like two players - a creative and exciting right winger interchanging with a committed right-back making tackles and crucial interceptions for his team. 

He has done this while playing with an admirable spirit of fair play and often with a beaming smile on his face.  It is not hard to see why he would be a popular captain, deservedly lifting the World Cup in 2002 and for that matter why Roy Race would welcome comparisons with such a great player and leader of a great Brazilian team!  Cafu is widely regarded as a top class legend of the game - a phenomenon of a full back and perhaps the greatest in football history?

'Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, to give Cafu his full name (he is sometimes referred to as Marcos Cafu), was involved in Brazilian football academies and also Futsal from an early age, but his introduction to professional football wasn't as immediate or smooth as might be thought given his eventual achievements and clear talents (on and off the ball).  While still a young player however, a switch from playing in midfield to his ideal wing-back position where his physical attributes could be used to best effect, led to a regular role in the Sao Paulo team that won the Copa Libertadores in South America, first in 1992 then again in 1993. 

These prizes were not his last prior to the World Cup in 2002, as in both Spain and Italy, Cafu's teams have been very successful.  He also won a World Cup winners medal in 1994 with Brazil - he was not a regular throughout the tournament due to Jorginho being the established first choice right-back, but when Jorginho got injured in the final on came Cafu to play his part in 75% of normal time plus extra time as Brazil were crowned World Champions for the first time since 1970.  Also in 1994, the emerging star Cafu was crowned South American Footballer of the Year - quite an achievement and tribute for a full-back considering the wealth of attacking talent in Brazil alone.

Cafu still lived up to his 'express train' nickname into his 30's and signed for the famous AC Milan at the age of 33 - playing a bit part role as he got older, but still showing moments of class to provide excellent assists worthy of the best of wingers and continuing to be a top team-player.  His understanding with compatriot Kaka provided perfect examples of his continued excellence as he often linked beautifully with the younger superstar on route to Milan claiming the Champions League in 2007.  This trophy added to the Serie A titles Cafu won at Milan in 2004 and his previous club Roma in 2001, where he was a star at the prime of his career and top of his form to the right of another Brazil international Aldair in the defence. 

In the game in which Roma clinched the title against Parma, Cafu instigated the move which led to their crucial second goal in a 3-1 victory and he was a key player that season and throughout his Roma years, scurrying up and down the right putting in great crosses and also showing great skill and composure in his distribution and with his ball juggling and dribbling - he certainly had Roy of the Rovers flair!