Who is the current best full-back in the world? To this question that torments the minds of many football fans, the legendary defender, Cafú, has the answer.
Through an interview, the former Brazil player announced that Madrid defender Dani Carvajal is currently “the best full-back in the world”.
To this end, he considers Luis de la Fuente’s team as “an inexperienced team, but also intrepid”, who will be a force to be reckoned with at the European Championship.
Speaking to EFE from Rio de Janeiro, on the occasion of the launch of “Makakooo”, the sports clothing brand of which he is the ambassador created with the aim of fighting racism, Cafu said he was admiring, but not surprised by the season that the Madrid full-back has just had at 32 years old.
Captain of the Brazilian team that won the World Cup in 2002, Cafu speaks with the experience he acquired from his 142 matches played with the Canarinha, to become a legendary full-back, that of the Dream Team Ballon d’Or chosen by France Football magazine in 2020.
“Honestly, I wasn’t surprised, because I’ve known Carvajal’s potential for a long time. Although he is not Brazilian, I have long said that he is one of the best in the world. Today, he plays a very important role at Real Madrid, of which he is the leader.
He is a winger who goes forward, who crosses, who scores, who is fierce, who scores goals and who loves it. Because now he’s scoring goals.”says Cafú.
He estimates that the three current big full-backs are Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Trent Alexander Arnold (Liverpool) and Dani Carvajal, but he places the Madrid player ahead of the other two. “Among the best in the world there are Walker and Alex Arnold, but for me Carvajal is number one,” he told EFE.
Furthermore, he is confident about the role that the Spanish national team can play in Germany, which begins its participation in the European Championship tomorrow against Croatia. “Spain is a young team, with very few experienced players, but it is a team that is not afraid to play and that, for this reason, will create many problems for its opponents.”
Vinicius and Endrick
As for his compatriot Vinicius, the other big star of the season at Real, Cafu has no doubt that he should win the Ballon d’Or. “I see him not only as a candidate, but also as the winner of the Ballon d’Or.
For everything he did in previous seasons and, above all, for what he did this season, in the Champions League final, but also in winning La Liga with Real Madrid and scoring a lot of goals. Vinicius’ numbers are very attractive, so I think he deserves it”.
The arrival of young Endrick at the Merengues next season is also not a source of uncertainty for Cafú, even if the striker will have to compete with players like Vinicius, Rodrygo and Mbappé.
“ In Brazil they say you have a diamond in your hand and it’s Endrick, right? But you have to know how to cut a diamond and Ancelotti knows it very well, he knows how to “cut” young players who, in the future, can become the best players in the world. He is a promising player, he is already a reality in Brazilian football and he is capable of becoming one of the best in the world”declared the Brazilian.
