7 greatest Brazilian defenders of all time

#2 Cafu

Cafu

The natural successor to Carlos Alberto Torres, Cafu followed in his footsteps by captaining Brazil to a World Cup triumph in 2002, playing all 603 minutes as Brazil lifted its fifth World title in Japan. With 142 caps, he is Brazil's all-time highest appearance maker and holds the distinction of being the only man to play in the final of three consecutive World Cup tournaments, doing so as a victor in the 1994 and 2002 editions and as a runner-up in 1998.

He started his senior club career at Sao Paulo in 1989 and his six-year stay at the club was immensely successful, winning consecutive Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cups (precursor to the Club World Cup) in 1992 and 1993. He ended his spell at Sao Paulo in 1995 with his transfer to Real Zaragoza, having won seven senior titles in Brazil.

His spell in Spain was not so notable although he won the 1995 European Cup Winners Cup with the La Liga club. After a brief stint back in Brazil, Cafu returned to Europe in 1997, this time in the Serie A with Roma and won the hearts of the Giallarossi faithful with his impressive displays, earning the nickname 'Il Pendolino' (The Express Train) due to his explosive forays down the Roma right flank.

With the Italian capital club, he won the Scudetto in 2001 before moving on to another Italian giant AC Milan in 2003. At Milan, he added the second scudetto of his career in 2004, two UEFA Super Cups (2003, 2007), the Super Coppa Italia in 2004, the 2007 Champions League (making him one of few players to have won the club continental titles in South America and Europe) and the 2007 FIFA World Club Cup. He announced his retirement from football at the expiration of his Milan contract in 2008 and is a member of both the Milan and Roma Hall of Fame.

With Brazil, he participated at four consecutive World Cups from 1994 to 2006, captaining his country at the latter two and set a record of making 21 appearances in total at the World Cup. He was also part of the victorious Brazilian squads at the 1997 and 1999 Copa America as well as the 1999 Confederations Cup.

On a personal level, Cafu was a part of Pele's FIFA 100 in 2004, he was also included in the World XI of the 21st century as well as the FIFA XI in 2002. Other personal milestones achieved in his career include being voted South American Player of the Year in 1994 and making it into the UEFA Team of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

For all his personal and team achievements, and his consistency for so long, Cafu is deservedly recognized as one of the greatest fullbacks of all time and he is without a doubt a legend of the game.