Cafu

Marcos Evangelista de Moraes (born June 7, 1970), better known as Cafu, is a Brazilian footballer, who is currently a defender for Italian giants A.C. Milan. He is currently the captain and the all-time leader in appearances for Brazil, with 140 as of June 27th, 2006. He has played for two World Cup-winning Brazil sides and in 2002, became the first person to play in three World Cup finals.

Cafu was born in the Jardim Irene neighborhood of São Paulo and started playing for his hometown club, São Paulo FC, in 1988, and with them he won the Copa Libertadores in 1992 and 1993. In 1995 he moved to Spanish side Real Zaragoza, and won the Cup Winners' Cup that year.

After a brief return to Brazil, moving to Palmeiras in 1996, Cafu joined Italian side AS Roma in 1997, and won the Serie A title in 2001. Cafu was firm favourite of the home crowd, earning the nickname Il Pendolino ('the express train'). He moved to Milan in 2003, after turning down a move to Yokohama F. Marinos.

Cafu had played sparingly for the Brazilian national side in the early 1990s, but only went to the 1994 FIFA World Cup as a squad player. After an injury to Jorginho in the final against Italy, Cafu came on as a substitute in the 22nd minute, forming part of the Brazilian defense in what was a turgid final. Brazil won 3-2 on a penalty shootout after the match finished goalless.

After that, Cafu became a regular in the Brazil team, winning the Copa América in 1997 and 1999, and taking the team to the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final, which they lost to France. After a rocky qualification tournament, Cafu captained Brazil in the 2002 FIFA World Cup after an injury to regular captain Emerson, and helped his side triumph 2-0 over Germany. As he raised the cup, he said "Regina, eu te amo" ("Regina, I love you!") and immortalized the love to his wife. This act was later criticized because some thought he was using a collective victory of a national team for his own benefits.

He is one of only 2 two-time World Cup champions remaining in the National Team, where he played at the final, unlike Ronaldo, who never left the bench.

Cafu loves to push forward from defence to help out his midfield just like fellow teammate, Roberto Carlos which is often perceived as a weakness in Brazil's talented team of superstars.

During the 2006 World Cup Cafu missed several passes (in the first half of Brazil vs. France quarterfinals match, he missed 7 out of 8 passes) and demonstrated weak mobility, lack of tactical awareness, no offensive capabilities, and incapacity to lead the team as captain. These factors substantially affected the Brazil's performance, which was below even the most pessimistic expectations. Despite the proven lack of technical adequacy required by the Brazilian national team in 2006, Cafu has shown his interest in participating in the 2010 World Cup, when he will be 40 years old (most Brazilian players above 30 years declared their "retirements" from the national team after the 2006 World Cup fiasco).

He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

Note on name

Cafu is correct (as opposed to Cafú). He was given this nickname because his style of play was reminiscent of that of Cafuringa, a legendary Brazilian forward who played in the 1970s.

External links

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Cafu

Note on name

External links