Cafu vs Ali Daei: Stats Compared
Right-Back, Brazil (born 1970, retired 2008) · Striker, Iran (born 1969, retired 2007)
Set Cafu alongside Ali Daei and the numbers start an argument of their own. Reputations harden into legacies, and few careers cast longer shadows than these two. Cafu finishes with 53 career goals from 856 games — a 0.06 strike rate — against Ali Daei's 200 from 400 at 0.50 per match. Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. The honours ledger favours Cafu with 9 major trophies (2× FIFA World Cup (1994, 2002)) against Ali Daei's 4 (3× Iranian Football League (1990, 1991, 1993)). History will file Cafu under rugged greatness and Ali Daei under clinical greatness — different shelves, same temple. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Cafu's landmark level arrived around 2002 with a career spanning São Paulo, Roma, Milan; Ali Daei's came around 1999 across Persepolis, Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich, Hertha BSC, Al-Sadd, Saba Qom. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
171 words · comparison angle: legacy
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.”
The all-time leading international goalscorer for over a decade with 109 goals, Daei was Asia's most feared centre-forward through the 1990s and 2000s.
“A physically imposing, clinical target man dominant in the air and lethal in front of goal.”
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)
- 3× Iranian Football League (1990, 1991, 1993)
- 1× Hazfi Cup (1993)
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
- 1988 Professional debut for Persepolis
- 1990 Won Iranian Football League with Persepolis
- 1993 Won Hazfi Cup with Persepolis
- 1999 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2007 Retired after a final spell at Saba Qom
- Finished his career with 200 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 200 goals in 400 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)
