Liverpool’s recent pre-season tour to the USA once again underlined the strength of support the club has across the globe.
The Reds played in front of enormous crowds in the US, as they do wherever they go in the world.
As well as places like America, Africa and the Far East, Liverpool also have a long tradition as a big club in South America.
In particular, Liverpool have always had a good relationship with Brazil. The Reds have had some fantastic players from the nation in recent years especially.
But while the likes of Alisson Becker and Roberto Firmino have lit up Anfield over the past decade, one Brazilian from a little further back has now pledged his support to Liverpool.
Cafu admits to being Liverpool fan
The first Brazilian to play for Liverpool did not do so until 2006. That was when Fabio Aurelio joined, with Lucas Leiva also following not long after.
Since then, a further seven players from Brazil have turned out for the Reds, some enjoying enormous success.
Alisson and Firmino are the best examples, but Liverpool’s great side under Jurgen Klopp had a third Brazilian, too, with Fabinho one of the lynchpins of the team.
Others have not been as warmly received. Back-up goalkeepers Doni and Diego Cavalieri as well as midfielder Arthur Melo are barely remembered at all at Anfield.
Philippe Coutinho is another to have made a success of his time on Merseyside.
For all of those players, though, none have had huge success with the national team. Alisson and Firmino won a Copa America in 2019, but could not crack the World Cup.
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In fact, Brazil as a whole have not won the biggest trophy in football since 2002. Right-back Cafu was the last player to conquer the world as captain of Brazil and speaking to FourFourTwo on Saturday, Cafu admitted that he is actually a big Liverpool fan.
“I still follow the Premier League and I love watching Kevin De Bruyne – he plays with such ease, it’s impressive,” begins the former AC Milan player.
“I’m a Liverpool fan, though. I’ve visited the club a few times and I enjoy their history, their stadium atmosphere, their songs.
“I even got the chance to meet Jon Flanagan, who was dubbed ‘the next Cafu’, and we took a picture together. I still remember that day,” Cafu adds.
Who did Cafu play for?
Younger readers may not remember, but Cafu was one of the absolute best full-backs of his day.
Having come through the ranks at Sao Paulo in Brazil, he really made his name in Europe with Roma between 1997 and 2003.
Liverpool fans who aren’t all that familiar with Cafu may still recognise him as being the right-back during the Reds’ Champions League final win in 2005.
The then 34-year-old played the full 120 minutes as Liverpool came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties.
Having won 142 caps for Brazil, Cafu is also recognised as one of Brazil’s greatest ever defenders. And, of course, a World Cup winning captain. Some pedigree, and yes, as it turns out, Cafu is a Red.
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