Cafú: "Carvajal is one of my favorite full-backs: he attacks, defends, he has personality"

Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, (Itaquaquecetuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1970) is the best right-back in the history of Calcio and the only footballer who played in three consecutive World Cup finals. He won two (1994 and 2002) and lost the 98 against France. Not even Pelé made that feat, although O Rei won three World Cups (1958, 62 and 70), but was unable to play in 1962 due to injury. We met with Cafu in Doha within the framework of Qatar 2022, of which he is the main ambassador.

Question. What prospects do you have for the World Cup one year after it starts?

Answer. It will be a great World Cup. There is only one change, and that is that it will be in winter... and even in Qatar it is a bit cold, but that is not a problem for Europe. They're used to it.

P. What do you think the World Cup will be like for fans coming from Europe?

R. I think they are going to have fun, it is a very different country but where everything works perfectly. It will be a really exciting World Cup and I encourage everyone to come to Qatar.

P. Speaking of Brazil, how do you think Vinicius will get to that appointment in 2022?

R. We still don't know if he will go, but if this evolution continues, I think he will be an important player in the Brazilian National Team within a year. He has grown a lot in recent months and has a much more important role than the one he had at Real Madrid. He has matured a lot.

P. What is the perception of Rodrygo in Brazil?

R. That of a player who is not a starter but, when he plays, he almost always does well. I think it deserves more continuity because it always makes a difference. Actually, in Brazil there are many outstanding young people right now. Rodrygo and Vinicius are two of the main ones.

P. Casemiro is 29 years old and plays almost everything. Do you see him tired lately?

R. I see all the tired players, not just him [laughs]. Casemiro is already 29 years old but don't forget that I played at 36. I don't think there are any problems with that. For everyone, the international calendar is exhausting. The sequence of matches is very large and the players have no rest or recovery. And Casemiro is an example, because of how important he is in Madrid and in the National Team.

P. Neymar recently said that he was going to retire at 30. Do you believe him?

R. In the event that this occurred, it would be his decision and it would have to be respected. If after the World Cup in Qatar he thinks he should retire, Brazil would lose a star. It would be a shame because he is very young and a reference in world football. I think he still has a lot of play to do.

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P. Let's talk about the right back, his position. Nowadays, some full-backs have a lot of impact in attack. Do you like this evolution of the game?

R. I really like that the full-backs progress, even without the ball. Some time ago there were no full-backs that reached the baseline and now there are, and of quality, that is, they arrive and put a good cross in the area in the right place. It is a very tiring show, because they have to manage the entire band, but it is very showy and increasingly important.

P. Who do you think is the best right back in the world today?

R. I really like Achraf, from PSG, and Carvajal. Dani seems very good to me.

P. Why do you like Carvajal so much?

R. Because it has personality. He always goes in front of attack, defends very well, attacks very well and, later, he is a boy who, apart from this last period of injuries, has always maintained a regularity. Oh, and I'm not forgetting Alexander-Arnold, from Liverpool, who is also very good.

P. Who do you think is going to be Neymar's successor as Brazil's idol?

R. I do not know, that's the truth. Unfortunately, Brazil is sorely lacking in idols nowadays... And not just Brazil, but world football in general. In Brazil we have great players like Vinicius and Rodrygo, but there is no post-Neymar idol yet.

P. How would you get Coutinho back at Barça?

R. Coutinho is one of those who could have succeeded Neymar, provided he is in very good shape, of course. He could be one of the great idols of Brazilian football right now. But it has not continued. A good solution to get him back would be for him to go back to one of the greats in Brazil. The Selection needs it.

P. Who is the favorite to win the Champions League?

R. PSG. In all its lines it has decisive players. And that Sergio Ramos is still missing, which will be important when he recovers.