← All Brazil legends
🇧🇷

Cafu

Brazil · 90s/2000s defender · $3 on $10 budget

💰 Is Cafu worth $3?

Sweet spot. Lets you afford a $5 GOAT or two $3 anchors.

Signature: Marathon man up and down the right

Did you know? Fun fact: Cafu would cost the same as 7x $1 budget players combined.

📖 About Cafu

Two-time World Cup winner (1994, 2002). Only player to play in three consecutive World Cup finals. Defined the modern attacking right back.

Cafu peaked in football's most televised era — the 1990s and 2000s. Players from this era often paired well with newer GOATs in $10 squads.

📊 Quick stats — Cafu

$3
Price
Defender
Position
90s/2000s
Era
🇧🇷
Brazil
4
Cheaper defenders
4
Pricier defenders

🏆 Career highlights

🏆 World Cup champion

🎯 Hall of Fame squads featuring Cafu

Pre-built $10 lineups that include Cafu as a starter.

📋 Build a $10 squad with Cafu (cheapest XI)

Auto-generated cheapest possible squad that includes Cafu.

DEFCafu$3
Total$6/10

🤝 Best pairings with Cafu ($7 budget left)

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi $5

🇦🇷 Argentina · GOAT

8 Ballon d'Ors — record. World Cup winner 2022, Copa America 2021, 2024. Four Champions Leagues. Bar…

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo $5

🇵🇹 Portugal · GOAT

Five Ballon d'Ors. Five Champions Leagues. Top scorer in international football history. Euros winne…

Pele

Pele $5

🇧🇷 Brazil · GOAT

Three World Cups (1958, 62, 70) — only player to do that. 1,000+ career goals (debated). Brazil's et…

Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona $5

🇦🇷 Argentina · GOAT

1986 World Cup winner — basically alone. Two Serie A titles for Napoli when they were tiny. Hand of …

Ronaldo (R9)

Ronaldo (R9) $5

🇧🇷 Brazil · GOAT

The Phenomenon. 2002 World Cup winner and top scorer. Two Ballon d'Ors. Came back from career-threat…

Ferenc Puskas

Ferenc Puskas $5

🇭🇺 Hungary · GOAT

Galloping Major. 84 goals in 85 games for Hungary. Three European Cups with Real Madrid. FIFA's Goal…

💸 Cheaper defenders under $3

💎 Premium defenders above $3

🌍 More Brazil football legends

Cafu is one of 24 Brazil legends. See all →

🎮 Cafu TenDollarPick stats (FIFA-style)

Derived from price tier, position, and era. Not official FIFA but a useful $10-game proxy.

87
Overall
82
Pace
72
Shooting
82
Passing
75
Dribbling
87
Defending
86
Physical

🎯 Playstyle — how Cafu actually plays

Cafu is a old-school technician — a reads the game two passes ahead, never loses possession in own half.

In a $10 4-3-3 setup, Cafu is one of 4 defenders sharing the back line. The trade-off at $3: balanced — premium without crippling the rest of the squad.

⚔️ Cafu vs his rivals at $3

Same position, similar price, different nation — who do you pick?

🤝 Dream teammates for Cafu

With $7 left, these are the most expensive players you could still afford alongside Cafu:

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi $5

🇦🇷 Argentina · GOAT ATT

8 Ballon d'Ors — record. World Cup winner 2022, Copa America 2021, 2024. Four Champions Leagues. Barcelona's all-time top scorer. …

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo $5

🇵🇹 Portugal · GOAT ATT

Five Ballon d'Ors. Five Champions Leagues. Top scorer in international football history. Euros winner 2016. Reinvention machine — …

Pele

Pele $5

🇧🇷 Brazil · GOAT ATT

Three World Cups (1958, 62, 70) — only player to do that. 1,000+ career goals (debated). Brazil's eternal number 10. Brought footb…

👬 Players similar to Cafu (same $3 tier, different era)

If you can't fit Cafu, these are the closest replacements at the same position and price.

🧠 Cafu in the $10 game — strategy guide

When to pick Cafu: Reliable backbone. Goes with anything. The "safe pick" of your era.

When to avoid Cafu: Almost never — at $3 Cafu is a value pick. The only reason to skip is if you want a same-country bias and Brazil isn't your theme.

Best formation for Cafu: 5-3-2 (5 defenders = more slots) or 4-3-3 if you want balance.

🎲 Cafu fan facts

❓ FAQ — Cafu

Is Cafu worth $3?

Sweet spot. Lets you afford a $5 GOAT or two $3 anchors.

Who can I pair with Cafu in a $10 squad?

With $7 left, you can afford: Lionel Messi ($5), Cristiano Ronaldo ($5), Pele ($5), Diego Maradona ($5).

What position does Cafu play?

Cafu is a defender for Brazil.

What is Cafu famous for?

Marathon man up and down the right

Are there cheaper alternatives to Cafu?

Yes: John Terry ($2), Rio Ferdinand ($2), Nemanja Vidic ($2), Ashley Cole ($2).

What era did Cafu play in?

Cafu is classified as 90s/2000s tier on TenDollarPick. Cafu peaked in football's most televised era — the 1990s and 2000s. Players from this era often paired well with newer GOATs in $10 squads.

Did Cafu win any major trophies?

Highlights: 🏆 World Cup champion.

What FIFA-style overall would Cafu have?

Based on our $3 tier and 90s/2000s classification, Cafu would be roughly OVR 87.

Best formation to use Cafu in?

5-3-2 (more defender slots) or 4-3-3 for balance.

Who are Cafu's closest rivals?

Franz Beckenbauer, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi.

Read on Wikipedia ↗