Thirty-seven days remain before the eyes of the world turn to the United States, Canada and Mexico for the most expansive edition of the FIFA World Cup in the tournament’s history.
As excitement grows around the world ahead of the World Cup, this countdown series takes a moment to recognise a record that no player in nearly 100 years of World Cup history has matched, a record that shows the incredible consistency of one man.
Marcos Evangelista de Morais, better known as Cafu, is the only player in FIFA World Cup history to play in three consecutive World Cup finals. It is an amazing achievement that reflects his long-lasting quality, success, and consistency, because reaching even one final is something many great players never achieve.
The only player in the history of the FIFA World Cup to appear in three consecutive finals, winning twice, losing once. Cafu’s record remains unbroken to this day.
Cafu first played in a FIFA World Cup final in 1994, when Brazil faced Italy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The match ended goalless, but Brazil won on penalties to lift the trophy. It was Cafu’s first World Cup title, as he played in a strong Brazilian team led by Romário and Bebeto.
Four years later in France, Cafu found himself back in the final, this time against the host nation. It was a night that would go down as one of the most debated in World Cup history, as France, inspired by Zinedine Zidane’s brace, defeated Brazil 3–0 in a match that remains concealed in questions over the circumstances surrounding Ronaldo’s fitness.
For Cafu, it was a night of profound disappointment, yet his presence in a second consecutive final only deepened his status as one of the generation’s elite players.
The defining moment, however, arrived in 2002. Co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, the tournament’s final brought Brazil face to face with Germany in Yokohama. Cafu, now Brazil captain, lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy on that evening following a 2–0 victory secured by a Ronaldo brace.
The image of Cafu with his arm raised and the trophy held high became one of football’s most iconic moments.
Cafu’s record becomes even more amazing when you look at World Cup history. The World Cup final happens only once every four years, and reaching it is very difficult, even for the greatest players. Legends like Pelé, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane played in only two finals each. But Cafu reached three finals in a row.
He played 142 times for Brazil and also won major trophies with São Paulo FC, AS Roma, and AC Milan, including the UEFA Champions League in 2007.