Cafu vs Miroslav Klose: Stats Compared
Right-Back, Brazil (born 1970, retired 2008) · Striker, Germany (born 1978, retired 2016)
Cafu versus Miroslav Klose is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Beyond the numbers, each man brought a singular aesthetic to the pitch. The raw numbers read 53 goals in 856 outings for Cafu (0.06/game), versus 318 in 705 for Miroslav Klose (0.45/game). Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. In major honours Cafu collected 9 — headlined by 2× FIFA World Cup (1994, 2002) — whereas Miroslav Klose amassed 7, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014). Cafu played with a commanding that made him unmistakable; Miroslav Klose brought a ruthless 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 Miroslav Klose reached his defining level around 2014 after spells with Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Lazio. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
170 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.”
All-time FIFA World Cup top scorer with 16 goals; Germany's all-time leading goalscorer with 71 international goals.
“A selfless striker and aerial specialist whose consistency made him a World Cup great.”
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× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 2× Bundesliga (2008, 2010)
- 3× DFB-Pokal (2005, 2008, 2010)
- 1× Coppa Italia (2013)
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
- 2000 Kaiserslautern debut
- 2002 World Cup debut, scored five headed goals
- 2007 Joined Bayern Munich
- 2011 Joined Lazio, won over fans with relentless work rate
- 2014 World Cup winner, became the all-time World Cup top scorer (16 goals)
- 2016 Retired at Lazio
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Cafu takes the verdict — a clear margin, driven by remarkable longevity.
Cafu edges it (a clear margin)
