Cafu on Endrick, Trent Alexander-Arnold and what Brazil must improve

When Cafu kissed the World Cup trophy on June 30, 2002 before lifting it triumphantly into the Yokohama air, Brazil were wallowing in the glory of a record-extending fifth title.

That night in Japan was the second time the attacking right-back had won the competition in just eight years, having been part of the side who conquered all in the US in 1994.

Synonymous with skill, speed and passion, an entertaining Seleção side were following in the footsteps of Pele, Zico and Jairzinho by not just winning - but winning beautifully.

Fast forward 22 years and the sparkling Brazilian style has lost its lustre.

An early exit from this summer's Copa America and a dearth of star players has led to scathing comments from a number of high-profile critics. 

National icon Ronaldinho courted controversy when he hit out at the current crop after a drab 1-1 draw against USA in a pre-tournament friendly.

'That's it folks, I've had enough,' he said.

'This is a sad moment for those who love Brazilian soccer. It's getting hard to find the spirit to watch the games. This is perhaps one of the worst teams in recent years, it has no respectable leaders, only average players for the majority.

'I've been following football since I was a kid, long before I thought about becoming a player, and I've never seen a situation as bad as this. Lack of love for the shirt, lack of grit and the most important of all: football.

'I'll repeat, our performance has been one of the worst things I've ever seen. Such a shame. I therefore declare my resignation. I will not watch any CONMEBOL Copa America game, nor celebrate any victory.'

Cafu, no less enterprising and bold than his playing partner in the glory days, took a slightly more circumspect approach as he sat down exclusively with Mail Sport to unpack the latest debacle in his nation's tumultuous footballing history.

Though insistent there is light at the end of the tunnel, the Brazilian icon still questioned the side's mentality as they slumped to a quarter-final exit against Uruguay in July.

'Ronaldinho is one of the most amazing players that has existed,' the 54-year-old said. 'At the end of the day, each opinion has to be respected and it is his own.

'At the Copa America, the team definitely didn't perform as expected. 

'In my opinion, maybe one of our vulnerabilities is the lack of understanding in the Brazilian team. 

'I think that would be a vulnerable point: the lack of understanding when you don't have a team, a team where people have memorised who the starters are.

'I think you always have to improve something, regardless of whether you win a title. 

'There is always something to improve when it comes to defeats, so I think you have to review the points that didn't work when it comes to a competition as important as this Copa America, and now I think it's about improving the mentality of the players, to put them in the winning mentality.'

Any hopes that Brazil would bounce back from this summer's setback were brutally dashed during this month's international break after a defeat to Paraguay made it four defeats in their last five World Cup qualifiers.

This leaves the five-time champions in serious danger of not being in the draw for the 2026 edition, with the nation lying fifth in qualifying and only above Venezuela on goal difference.

And it proved another tough day for the latest prodigy on the production line, Endrick, who was hooked off at half-time having also missed the win over Ecuador four days prior.

The 18-year-old centre-forward announced himself to the watching world in a glittering substitute's cameo against England in March, scoring the winner.

He then swapped Palmeiras for Real Madrid over the summer where he has already bagged his first La Liga goal.

Having played with Rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, Cafu has witnessed talents at every stage of their career - and thinks that Endrick is in the right place if he wants to match the impressive Brazilian alumni.

'Adapting to Real Madrid is the easiest thing in the world,' he said. 'We are talking about the best teams in the world, it is very easy to adapt.

'There he will find other great Brazilians, like Rodrigo, Militão, Vini Júnior… they are players who will make it possible for him to adapt as quickly as possible.

'We have a lot of faith and hope in Endrick's talent. We know his potential and his ability but it will only depend on him.

'If he plays like he has been playing here in Brazil, he will surely adapt easily.'

Cafu's beloved right-back position has been high on the footballing agenda of late, with heated debate over who should fill the role dominating the narrative around the English national side.

Trent Alexander-Arnold excelled on the flank in Nations League matches against Ireland and Finland, having toiled in the midfield during this summer's Euros.

The Liverpool man looks set, at last, for a run of games in his favoured position - with stalwart Kyle Walker reaching the twilight years of a stellar career.

Cafu, many people's choice in the right-back berth for their all-time XI, weighed in on England's selection headaches. 

'You are quite well-stocked in that position,' he said.

'Walker is an amazing player and one of the best right-backs in the world. He has the speed, he has the strength.

'He's not scared of going forward to attack but also he defends in an amazing way.

'Alexander-Arnold is an amazing player as well so those two are the best right-backs in England right now.'

Some experiments take time to bear fruit - but the Trent to midfield gambit shrivelled up and died after just 145 minutes of tepid Euros football.

While his range of passing and wells of energy seem to make him a perfect fit for a quarterback role, Alexander-Arnold looked far more comfortable with listen to roam on the right and created five chances against Finland, assisting Harry Kane's opener.

Cafu reckons he should stay there.

'It's funny because I started the other way round,' he said. 'I started in midfield and then moved to the right.

'But I wouldn't recommend because he has all the talent to be a fantastic right-back and actually the world right now needs more right-backs because it's a position that doesn't have many amazing players and he's an amazing football player.

'So he should focus on that because he has the talent and also because of the lack that that position has in football currently.'

All this talk of a marauding Trent got the Brazilian icon thinking about his own glory days galloping down the wing.

In a career packed with achievements, including a Champions League trophy with Milan and Serie A titles with two different clubs, the image of a beaming Cafu holding the World Cup trophy, and becoming the 21st and most recent player to win it twice, is the defining one.

Reflecting on that glorious day in Japan, the Brazilian said: 'To look at the World Cup trophy after reaching the final in 1998 with your own country and having had the opportunity to win it is wonderful, and as captain it's even better.

'Being world champion is not easy and there I was being world champion for the second time, as captain, so it was an inexplicable emotion.'

In an era packed with some of the sport's all-time greats, Cafu had to work for every winner's medal as he turned out against Serie A's finest in the league's golden era.

But who was the best he faced? 

'I've played against great strikers, I've played against Ronaldo, I've played against Bebeto, I've played against Romário, I've played against [Andriy] Shevchenko, [Filippo] Inzaghi,' he said.

'But I've played against a guy called Ronaldinho Gaúcho, and I'll tell you that guy gave me a hard time. 

'I think Ronaldinho Gaúcho was the hardest player I've faced against in my career.'

Oh what the Seleção would give to have that pair back and terrorising defences. 

Cafu was speaking after announcing the launch of new global clothing brand Makakooo which is dedicated to combating racism within football.