Eusébio vs Cafu: Stats Compared
Striker, Portugal (born 1942, retired 1978) · Right-Back, Brazil (born 1970, retired 2008)
Line up Eusébio next to Cafu and the contrasts come quickly. Style separates them as much as statistics: two players, two unmistakable signatures. The raw numbers read 623 goals in 715 outings for Eusébio (0.87/game), versus 53 in 856 for Cafu (0.06/game). Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. Trophy counts give Eusébio 9 and Cafu 9, with 1× European Cup (1962) and 2× FIFA World Cup (1994, 2002) the standout honours respectively. Eusébio played with a explosive that made him unmistakable; Cafu brought a elegant that was equally his own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Eusébio's landmark level arrived around 1965 with a career spanning Benfica, Montréal Manic; Cafu's came around 2002 across São Paulo, Roma, Milan. The fairest reading therefore balances output with role, era, longevity and the different tactical responsibilities each carried at his best. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
169 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (25 January 1942 – 5 January 2014), nicknamed the "Black Panther", the "Black Pearl" and "o Rei" ("the King"), was a Portuguese footballer who played as a striker. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time and Benfica’s greatest player. Known for his speed, technique, athleticism and right-footed shot, he became one of football’s most prolific goalscorers.
“A powerful, explosive striker who combined pace, technique and a thunderous shot.”
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.”
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
- 1× European Cup (1962)
- 2× FIFA World Cup (1994, 2002)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1957 Established himself at Benfica
- 1961 Reached his defining peak
- 1965 Delivered a landmark season
- 1978 Retired from professional football
- 1994 Established himself at São Paulo
- 1998 Reached his defining peak
- 2002 Delivered a landmark season
- 2008 Retired from professional football
The verdict
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
