Cafu
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Cafu, real name Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, (born June 7, 1970 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian football player, who is currently a defender for Italian giants A.C. Milan. He is the all-time leader in appearances for the Brazilian national team, with 138 as of March 30, 2005. He has played for two World Cup-winning Brazil sides and in 2002 he became the first person to play in the World Cup final three times.
Cafu 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 Marinos.
Cafu had played sparingly for the Brazilian national side in the early 1990s, but only went to the Template:Wc 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 defence 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 final of the Template:Wc Final, which they lost to France. After a rocky qualification tournament, Cafu captained Brazil in the Template:Wc after an injury to regular captain Emerson, and helped his side triumph 2-0 over Germany.
He is one of only 2 two-time World Cup champions among current players, the other being Ronaldo, who didn't play a single minute in his first World Cup win in 1994.
Although Cafu was rested for the 2004 Copa América, he fully intends to help Brazil defend their title in the Template:Wc, even though he would be nearly 36.
He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.
External links
- Profile on UEFA.com (http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/Players/Player=27319/)de:Cafu