There are some partnerships in football which have a connection so strong, it seems as if they have telepathy between them: Xavi & Iniesta, Cole & Yorke, Maldini & Baresi. But what the Roberto Carlos – Cafu partnership share is entirely different. They rarely played for the same club, but each time they wore the yellow of the Brazilian National Team, magic happened in football.
Before Roberto Carlos and Cafu, the primary function of a fullback was to simply win the ball back and pass it to an available teammate. Since Roberto Carlos and Cafu, the fullback has become a complete attacking force, capable of creating chances and scoring goals. Sportliga.com examines the incredible impact that these two Brazilian players had on football and how we now think of fullbacks.
Roberto Carlos: The man who cancelled physics
Left Back
Clubs: Inter, Real Madrid
In 1995 Roy Hodgson made perhaps the biggest mistake in football history by selling Roberto Carlos to Real Madrid after deciding he was no longer good enough defensively. In Madrid, however, Roberto Carlos became a legend. With thighs larger than many bodybuilders, and the speed of a 100 meter sprinter, Roberto Carlos made the flank disappear on the left-hand side of the pitch while allowing Zinedine Zidane to create havoc in the center of the park without ever worrying about defending. Roberto Carlos’ left-foot shot was more feared than many penalty kicks. Goalkeepers were more concerned about breaking their hand than conceding against Roberto Carlos.
That Iconic Moment:
Cafu – goal.com
June 3, 1997. Tournoi de France. A free kick from 35 meters away. Roberto Carlos begins his run from almost the center circle, and strikes the ball with the outside of his foot. The ball heads towards the corner flag. Fabien Barthez does not budge… and then aerodynamics disappears, the ball curves impossible and smashes into the net off the post.Cafu: Million Watt Smile and Two Hearts
Right Back
Clubs: São Paulo, Roma, Milan
If Roberto Carlos was pure chaos and explosion, Cafu was the embodiment of consistent football intelligence and the gold standard of consistency. They called him “Il Pendolino” (“The High-Speed Train”). It looked like he never sweated. On the 120th minute he would still sprint the same distance as he did in the first. And he always — literally always — chewed gum and smiled.
Playing Phenomenon:
Cafu was far more technically gifted than Roberto Carlos. He could beat a man one-on-one in a phone booth. Do you remember that moment in the Rome Derby where Cafu did a triple-sombrero over Pavel Nedved without letting the ball hit the ground? That was the ultimate humiliation.
Historic Record:
Cafu is the only player in the history of football to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals (1994, 1998, 2002). The record has stood for over 20 years, and most likely will never be beaten.
Perfect Synergy: Working Together (World Cup 2002)
Their absolute pinnacle of greatness came at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari understood this perfectly: keeping such wild animals in defense would be a crime. Therefore, he switched to 3-5-2.
Three Center backs (Lucio, Edmílson, Roque Júnior) and two defensive midfielders (Gilberto Silva and Kleberson) were created solely for one purpose: to protect the flanks. Both Cafu and Roberto Carlos were given a free license to roam the field as wingers.
The “Pincer” Tactic:
Roberto Carlos – goal.com
Opponents of Brazil were trapped either way. If they attempted to block the center (where Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were waiting), Cafu and Roberto Carlos destroyed them on the flanks. If they stretched out to prevent the fullbacks from beating them, Ronaldo had all the room in the world in the center. It was the ideal attacking machine. Cafu held the World Cup Trophy aloft as Captain, amidst a shower of confetti — an image that may be among the most iconic in sports history.
Legacy: Why They Can’t Be Replaced
Following the departure of these “Sacred Monsters”, football changed forever. There were worthy successors:
Dani Alves and Marcelo — More technically gifted, more creative with passing, but clearly less powerful physically and less reliable defensively.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alphonso Davies — Modern stars attempting to emulate the Brazilian Style.
However, the partnership of Roberto Carlos and Cafu cannot be matched due to their perfect combination of physicality and intelligence on the field. Roberto Carlos could knock a forward into next week. Cafu read the game like a professor and made virtually no positional errors. They were not merely attacking fullbacks, they were football soldiers.
Summary
Football today is obsessive with stats, xG and tactical geeks. However, Roberto Carlos and Cafu showed us that football is first and foremost about sheer joy, insane speed and utter cheekiness. They demonstrated that a defender can wear the No. 6 or No. 2 jersey and be the biggest attraction on the pitch.
