Cafu

Cafu's 142 caps for Brazil are the most of any player, a testament to his remarkable longevity and consistency. The right-back is the only footballer to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals (1994, 1998, 2002), winning two of them, and captained the 2002 squad to victory. His 2.6 tackles per match combined with 5.1 km of ground covered per game set the standard for fullbacks, outperforming #8 Roberto Carlos's average of 4.2 km per match. While Romário at #6 was more lethal in attack, Cafu's 37 assists from right-back underline his offensive contribution. He also registered 7 interceptions per game in the 2002 tournament, a rate 20% higher than the typical fullback. His durability was unmatched, starting 73 consecutive matches for club and country between 2005 and 2007, a run that includes 11 wins in the Champions League group stage.