Cafu vs Rui Costa: Stats Compared
Right-Back, Brazil (born 1970, retired 2008) · Attacking Midfielder, Portugal (born 1972, retired 2008)
Cafu and Rui Costa represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Across his senior career Cafu notched 53 goals in 856 appearances (0.06 per game), while Rui Costa recorded 90 in 550 (0.16 per game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Cafu is listed at 0 and Rui Costa at 100 where figures survive. Trophy counts give Cafu 9 and Rui Costa 4, with 2× FIFA World Cup (1994, 2002) and 2× Coppa Italia (1996, 2001) the standout honours respectively. The right-back duties of Cafu leaned anticipatory; the attacking midfielder responsibilities of Rui Costa leaned orchestrating. Club journeys add another layer, with Cafu reaching his representative peak around 2002 across São Paulo, Roma, Milan and Rui Costa doing so around 2000 with Benfica, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Benfica. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
169 words · comparison angle: role
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 wonderfully elegant Portuguese playmaker, Rui Costa was the creative fulcrum of Fiorentina's late-90s side before winning the Champions League with AC Milan.
“A visionary, effortlessly stylish playmaker celebrated for his weighted through-balls and elegant range of passing.”
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)
- 2× Coppa Italia (1996, 2001)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2003)
- 1× Serie A (2004)
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
- 1990 Professional debut for Benfica
- 1996 Won Coppa Italia with Fiorentina
- 2004 Won Serie A with AC Milan
- 2000 Reached the peak of his powers at Fiorentina
- 2008 Retired after a final spell at Benfica
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, Cafu is the choice: a decisive margin, with a weightier trophy cabinet the deciding factor.
Cafu edges it (a decisive margin)
