The only man to play in three straight World Cup finals — and he was a defender

When people think of World Cup legends, strikers and midfielders usually steal the spotlight. But Cafu, the Brazilian right-back, achieved something no other player in history has matched: he appeared in three consecutive World Cup finals — 1994, 1998, and 2002.

In 1994, a young Cafu came off the bench as Brazil beat Italy on penalties in the Rose Bowl. Four years later in France, he started the final but watched helplessly as the host nation dismantled Brazil 3-0. Then in 2002, wearing the captain's armband in Yokohama, he lifted the trophy after Brazil's 2-0 victory over Germany. That night, the image of Cafu hoisting the golden trophy became one of football's most iconic photographs.

142 caps for Brazil made him the country's most-capped player at the time of his retirement. Known for his tireless runs up and down the right flank, Cafu redefined what a full-back could be — not just a defender, but an attacking weapon. His consistency across three World Cup cycles, spanning twelve years at the highest level, remains unmatched.