Cafu vs Oliver Kahn: Stats Compared
Right-Back, Brazil (born 1970, retired 2008) · Goalkeeper, Germany (born 1969, retired 2008)
Ask any fan to rank Cafu above or below Oliver Kahn and you will get a passionate answer. Their textures on the ball are what fans actually remember, and they could hardly be more different. Across his senior career Cafu notched 53 goals in 856 appearances (0.06 per game), while Oliver Kahn recorded 0 in 781 (0.00 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. In major honours Cafu collected 9 — headlined by 2× FIFA World Cup (1994, 2002) — whereas Oliver Kahn amassed 18, led by 1× UEFA European Championship (1996). Cafu played with a uncompromising that made him unmistakable; Oliver Kahn brought a imposing that was equally his own. Their routes to the top were distinct: Cafu built his reputation across São Paulo, Roma, Milan, peaking around 2002, while Oliver Kahn reached his defining level around 2001 after spells with Karlsruher SC, Bayern Munich. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
176 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Marcos Evangelista de Morais (born 7 June 1970), known as Cafu, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a right-back. Widely regarded as one of the greatest full-backs of all time, he was known for his pace and energetic attacking runs along the right flank. He is the most-capped player for the Brazil national team with 142 appearances.
“A relentless full-back whose running power and crossing made the flank a second engine.”
German goalkeeper and 2002 World Cup Golden Ball winner; eight-time Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich.
“An intimidating, fiery keeper whose reflexes, presence and aura won him the nickname Der Titan.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 2× FIFA World Cup (1994, 2002)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (1996)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2001)
- 8× Bundesliga
- 6× DFB-Pokal
- 1× UEFA Cup (1996)
- 1× Intercontinental Cup (2001)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1994 Established himself at São Paulo
- 1998 Reached his defining peak
- 2002 Delivered a landmark season
- 2008 Retired from professional football
- 1987 Karlsruher SC debut
- 1994 Joined Bayern Munich
- 1996 Euro winner (as backup)
- 1999 Lost the Champions League final in stoppage time
- 2001 Champions League winner, man of the match in the final
- 2002 World Cup finalist, won the Golden Ball as best player
- 2008 Retired at Bayern Munich
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Cafu wins out by a clear margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
Cafu edges it (a clear margin)
