Cafu vs Ivan Rakitić: Stats Compared
Right-Back, Brazil (born 1970, retired 2008) · Central Midfielder, Croatia (born 1988, retired 2023)
Cafu and Ivan Rakitić represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Both built reputations on finding the back of the net, but they did it in markedly different ways. The raw numbers read 53 goals in 856 outings for Cafu (0.06/game), versus 90 in 700 for Ivan Rakitić (0.13/game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Cafu is credited with 0 and Ivan Rakitić with 90. In major honours Cafu collected 9 — headlined by 2× FIFA World Cup (1994, 2002) — whereas Ivan Rakitić amassed 6, led by 1× UEFA Champions League (2015). Where Cafu was a commanding presence in the box, Ivan Rakitić offered a silky approach to goalscoring. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Cafu's landmark level arrived around 2002 with a career spanning São Paulo, Roma, Milan; Ivan Rakitić's came around 2015 across Basel, Schalke 04, Sevilla, Barcelona, Sevilla, Hajduk Split. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
182 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
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.”
A key architect of Barcelona's 2015 treble and Croatia's run to the 2018 World Cup final, Rakitić combined tireless work rate with excellent passing range.
“A tireless, technically composed box-to-box midfielder whose range of passing linked defence and attack seamlessly.”
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 Champions League (2015)
- 1× UEFA Europa League (2014)
- 4× La Liga (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
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
- 2005 Professional debut for Basel
- 2015 Won UEFA Champions League with Barcelona
- 2015 Won La Liga with Barcelona
- 2015 Reached the peak of his powers at Barcelona
- 2023 Retired after a final spell at Hajduk Split
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Cafu wins out by a clear margin on the weight of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Cafu edges it (a clear margin)
