Double World Cup winner Cafu picks his all-time Brazil XI
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Picking an all-time Brazil XI is a thankless task, but double World Cup winner Cafu has done exactly that.
The former right-back is the only man in history to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals, doing so between 1994 and 2002.
Brazil won the first and last editions of those tournaments, beating Italy on penalties in the 1994 final in Pasadena and Germany 2-0 in Yokohama in 2002 with a brace from Ronaldo.
The former forward does make it into Cafu's side, which he revealed to The Guardian , but the ex-Roma and Milan right-back has been forced to omit several stellar names including ex-teammates Romario and Ronaldinho, as well as current star Neymar.
(Image: Reuters)
(Image: Reuters)
The rest of team isn't bad though...
Goalkeeper: Taffarel
(Image: Getty)
The stopper earned 101 caps for Brazil, and played in two World Cup finals - winning in 1994 and losing in 1998.
"He was so calm, smooth and peaceful, always giving us confidence on the field," said Cafu.
"He didn’t do anything fancy, never jumped or dived unnecessarily and always had the ball under control."
Defence: Carlos Alberto, Lucio, Aldair, Roberto Carlos
(Image: Getty)
Carlos Alberto - the scorer of the famous fourth goal against Italy in 1970 - gets the nod in Cafu's position of right-back, and the rest of the defence is pretty good too.
"The two central defenders are Aldair and Lúcio," Cafu continued.
"They never played together, but I believe that they would form an amazing partnership.
"Left-back, for sure, is Roberto Carlos."
Midfield: Falcao, Zico, Rivellino, Rivaldo
(Image: Reuters/Paulo Whitaker)
Rivellino, a star of the 1970 team, takes his place in midfield alongside Falcao and Zico who both played for Brazil in the 1982 side - a team that is long considered to be the best that never won the World Cup.
A 2002 hero then starts as the No. 10 behind the strikers.
"As for Rivaldo, he was a genius," said Cafu. "Come on!
"It was so wonderful to see him with the ball. He played with the same style as Falcao. Rivaldo was brilliant."
Attack: Ronaldo, Pele
(Image: Getty Images Sport)
Cafu says that picking these two in attack was "easy", and calls Pele "the best player of all-time".
On Ronaldo, he adds: "He suffered three serious injuries during his career, and was always fighting against these problems.
"Ronaldo was essential to us in 2002 when we became world champions."
Read Cafu's full interview with The Guardian here