PANAJI: Cafu knows more than a thing or two about representing the Brazilian national team, captaining them and winning World Cups.
The Brazilian has played more games for his country than any other player, playing three World Cups, winning two and captaining the team when they won it for the fifth and last time in 2002.
Since that memorable triumph in Japan, the Samba magic has appeared to fade away. There have been heartbreaks at every World Cup with European giants like Italy (2006), Spain (2010), Germany (2014) and France (2018) proving too strong for the South American challengers.
Now if there’s someone who can help Brazil end the wait, it’s Neymar, even though the superstar is now 30 and not exactly in the prime of his career.
“Neymar is not past his prime,” Cafu, a member of the Laureus Academy, told TOI on Friday. “He is a star and will always remain one. He might have times when he is not playing so good and can do better, but there are possibilities that he can (still) win the biggest prizes.”
The big prizes are now missing from Brazil’s cabinet.
It’s been 20 years since Brazil won the World Cup, and it’s been 15 years since a Brazilian, Kaka, won the Ballon d'Or, awarded for the world’s best footballer.
The closest that anyone has got to being officially crowned the world’s best is Neymar. The last two World Cups have been all about the flashy Brazilian; his back injury when the tournament was played at home in 2014 saddened a nation and four years later the PSG forward was still the cynosure of all eyes when Brazil crashed out to Belgium in the quarterfinals.
The World Cup in Qatar later this year, Neymar has said, could be the last of his career, as football continues to take a toll on him mentally. That’s not good news for football, believes Cafu.
“We really hope he can change his mind. Neymar has a very heavy burden on his shoulders. He is one of the three best players in the world. I wish he would play all his life. He only has to think about playing football. It would be a shame for football if Neymar left the pitch,” he said.
This season, Neymar was joined at PSG by his friend and Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi. There’s Kylian Mbappe too, but despite the presence of such great stars, the team has been unable to fire, leading to speculation that the trio won’t be together next season.
“I would always like to see Neymar, Messi and Mbappe together,” said Cafu. “There is no team like PSG that has three such strong players. I would like to see them always play together.”
The Brazilian also spoke fondly of other young stars, most notably Pedri Gonzalez at Barcelona, who has been nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards in the Breakthrough of the Year category. The 19-year-old played 53 times in 2020-21 for Barcelona, and every game for Spain at Euro 2020.
“I think every top club wants to sign him. There will be more and more young players emerging in this age group who will become the best in the world,” said Cafu.
