No kid wants to grow up and be Gary Neville.
Even from the other side of the world in sunny São Paulo, Cafu laughs at Jamie Carragher’s infamous assertions.
The Brazil legend understands the feeling, but protests: “No, no, Gary Neville was a great linebacker. He would honestly make it to the byline. He played without fear. He was a captain.
Cafu spoke to the legendary Brazilian right-back Sportsmail’s Craig Hope via video call
For Cafu, there is one English right-back that stands out – Trent Alexander-Arnold (left).
What about Carragher?
“It was very good, too.” Less empty, but polite nonetheless.
Carragher made his claim about young players’ unwillingness to appear at right-back in 2013. The roll has continued over seven years and England have been blessed with a talent at the center, a fact not lost on Cafu, the most decorated right-back in history and record holder of 142 caps for his country.
So, if not Neville, who influenced Trent Alexander-Arnold, Rhys James, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka?
Maybe, take a chance, he’s the guy he’s talking to Sportsmailseated at home against the backdrop of a personal souvenir locker to rival any major club.
We tell him that in this country, any promising right-back with a desire to cross the middle of the road is easily called the “next Cafu”. Even Alan Hutton.
Sportsmail tells Cafu that the right-back who wants to cross halfway is called ‘Next Cafu’.
“It makes me happy,” said the two-time World Cup winner and captain of the winning team in 2002. “I am the only player in history to have played in three consecutive World Cups.
So I hope to inspire these young English players with the way they play. Previously, no one wanted to be a linebacker, so we are pioneers in our position.
But for Kafu there is one outstanding person – Alexander Arnold. He shakes his head and smiles at the mention of his name.
“I can see the similarities,” he says of the Liverpool star and himself. “He’s not afraid to attack, he defends well, he passes well, he takes a great free kick. He will be a star in the next World Cup.
Cafu believes that Liverpool right-back Alexander Arnold can compete for the Ballon d’Or
Cafu is not over yet. He wants to make it clear that Alexander-Arnold can challenge him for the Ballon d’Or.
He can take the right-back position to another level. I think we’re starting to change the narrative, the way people look at their full back.
It is not only the scorer who should be the best player in the world. It is completely wrong that some great players have never won the Ballon d’Or because of their position. Nowadays, appearances should be seen as the main protagonists of the game.
Cafu argues that there has always been a greater appreciation for the role in Brazil. He reminds Djalma Santos, the 1958 and 1962 World Cup winner, and Carlos Alberto, the great 1970 captain, with the names kids like him imitate on the streets and beaches.
It took the rest of the world some time to catch up.
Cafu believes that in Brazil there has always been more appreciation for the role of right-back
“The right-back should now be the highest paid player on every team!” Announces 50 years. Only attackers have to register. The midfielders, they pass. Goalkeepers save. The full-back must be a professional, covering the center back and midfield, going forward and passing, taking hits and providing the link for the attackers.
Pep Guardiola knows this. A team with two great full-backs poses a much greater threat. You won’t do well without it.
It should be noted that the Cafu teams performed well. And for good reason it has been nicknamed ‘The Lungs of Brazil’ and ‘The Express Train’.
So are there any regrets from his football career?
He spins in his chair with his arms outstretched towards the silverware behind him. That would be no, then.
Cafu sat at his home against the backdrop of a personal souvenir locker to rival any big club
Marcos Evangelista de Moraes was born on June 7, 1970. What else was going on that afternoon?
“Brazil was playing England in the World Cup!” Poms Cafu, later named after the right-sided player flying for Fluminense.
Now, if you want to capture the Brazilian soccer obsession, what Cafu says next is a good starting point.
“The right-back should now be the highest paid player on every team!” announced 50 years
My father would say to the nurse, “Let’s go, let’s go, I want to see Brazil, this boy must be born now.” But the nurse wanted to watch football just as much as he did! “
The midwife pleaded with the newborn to arrive, “Come on, little Pele,” I encouraged her.
So I was born in the middle of the game. Brazil, 1-0, Jairzinho! I think from that moment on I was destined to become the world champion.
Cafu presents the scorer’s name with all the vibrancy of a Latin commentator, just as he did when he recreated the goal as a child at Jardim Irene Favela in São Paulo.
Cafu lifted the 2002 World Cup when Brazil beat Germany in the final in Japan
I made sock balls filled with newspaper and pages of textbooks. We’d play down the street with our flip-flops for goal posts, barefoot on concrete and come home with our big toenails missing from kicking on the floor. It was the happiest thing in the world.
Cafu never got the chance to meet the player named after him. Cavurenga died at the age of 42 in 1991 after contracting sepsis after a football injury.
“I was hoping to meet him,” he says. “He was my inspiration, we played the same way.”
The topic is not easy. Last September, Danilo, Cafu’s eldest son, died at the age of 30 after suffering a heart attack while playing football. Cafu carried him off the field on his shoulders and took him to the hospital, but the doctors were unable to revive him.
Cafu played with AC Milan and was part of the team that Liverpool defeated in Istanbul in 2005
We have been asked not to talk about Danilo because the loss is still very cruel, and we respect those wishes. He has not been able to enter his son’s bedroom since then. The only time he spoke about it, Kafue revealed that he cries every day to ease the pain.
But we’re already talking about his grandchildren, and Kafue proudly rejoices, especially at the mention of a video of him teaching his grandson to inflict punishments.
He smiles: “He’s much better than me.”
Cafu didn’t take a penalty during Brazil’s penalty shootout win over Italy in the 1994 World Cup final – joking that even Diana Ross was ahead of him in the standings – but he was ready for the seventh kick when Milan lost. From Liverpool in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final after a 3-3 draw.
He denied that Milan was celebrating as it led 3-0 in the first half, and says: ‘We did not expect Liverpool to act the way they did. There was negligence on our part, but all credit to them for believing they could change the situation. they deserve it.’
Similarly, Cafu has no complaints about the World Cup final he lost, 3-0 to hosts France in 1998. He was in the hotel room before the match when superstar Ronaldo suffered a spasm and teammate Cesar Sampaio pulled his tongue. from the ring
Cafu didn’t think Ronaldo should have played, but admitted: “I could make a lot of excuses, but we lost because France played better than us. Is Ronaldo fully fit? I don’t think it would have made a difference.”
Four years later, in Japan, Brazil regained the cup by beating Germany 2-0. Only 11 humans can answer the following question, and Cafu is one of them.
What does lifting the World Cup look like as a captain?
Pele handed me the cup, I looked at her and thought, Lord, we did it. It feels like fireworks are going off on the moon. Only those who have earned this trophy can know what I’m talking about.
Cafu was asked to stand on a tall glass pedestal before lifting the World Cup.
Cafu played 142 matches for the Brazilian national team between 1990 and 2006, during which he scored five goals
I didn’t care if I was going to fall and injure myself or if the platform was going to break. I knew it was made of glass and could shatter or crumble, but you’re so overwhelmed with joy that you don’t even think about what you’re doing. If it collapsed, I would have raised the cup intact! “
Brazil had defeated England 2-1 in the quarter-finals. But does Cafu remember who played on the left wing of the England national team?
Ashley Cole says. He was very similar to me, and always got ahead. We were constantly facing each other on both sides.
Trevor Sinclair was already to the left of midfield. Did Cafu forget about it?
“No, but it was very special…”
Brazil had beaten England 2-1 in the 2002 quarter-final – Cafu faced Trevor Sinclair (left).
It should come as no surprise that Kafu’s great pastime outside of football involves traveling fast.
Every Sunday I go out on my motorbike. About 50 of us visit different cities in the countryside. I think I need that speed, it replaces the thrill of running on the wing! “
On Wednesday, he distributes meals to the homeless. He also has a Cafu Institution in Jardim Irene, the slum he often returns to only to find most of his childhood friends long gone, either dead or in prison.
“The foundation is about giving children opportunities and empowering them as full citizens, rather than losing out on a lot in the drug world,” he says.
Cafu’s standing in Brazil allows him to make a difference. But he admits, though, that conversation with the guy on the street never goes beyond memories of the World Cup.
Cafu is ambassador for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar and supports Brazil to come out on top
But he also wants to talk about the upcoming tournament in Qatar, for which he is an ambassador. We’ll know the winners two years later, with the final being held on December 18.
There is one myth he is keen to address.
“The weather won’t be a problem,” he says, with temperatures averaging around 22 degrees Celsius. Remember, I played in the 1994 World Cup Final in the Rose Bowl in California at 1 PM – it was like there was the sun over every player!
That World Cup was very popular. This, in Qatar, will have the intimacy of the Olympic Games, very different from what we are used to. Fans will not regret coming to Qatar. The stadiums are wonderful, luxurious and comfortable. I think this will be a unique tournament.
And the winner?
“Brazil will beat England in the final!”
Now that would make for a good World Cup.
