The retired Brazilian defender feels “proud and honoured” to be viewed as a legend of the game because he never expected to have achieved everything he did in his long playing career.

He told FourFourTwo magazine: “It makes me happy. It’s impossible to translate into words how proud and honoured I feel when I get that kind of recognition, especially when you bear in mind that Brazil alone – and I’m not even bringing names from other countries to the table – had legends such as Carols Alberto, Leandro and Jorginho playing in my position in the past. It blows my mind.

“But, in truth, do you know why it feels like this? Because, honestly, I never thought I would achieve anything that I achieved during my career.

“I pictured myself becoming a footballer, yes, winning trophies with my club, getting to the national team, playing in a World Cup and bringing it home.

“All of that, I pictured myself doing.

“But if you’d asked me if I could imagine becoming the only man in history to have played in three consecutive finals? No, I couldn’t. Or wearing the captain’s armband and lifting the 2002 trophy? No, I couldn’t. Being Brazil’s most-capped player ever? No, I couldn’t. Or featuring in 20 World Cup games? Again, no I couldn’t. I didn’t plan any of that. It all happened naturally.”

Despite a number of failed trials in his youth, including three with Sao Paulo, Cafu never held any resentment towards those who rejected him.

He said: “I don’t hold a grudge against anyone for saying ‘no’ in the past.

“What happened, happened, and that’s it.

“It’s not easy to be told at such a young age that you’re being released for your own good, but it makes you stronger.

“My only reaction was to say ‘Thank you’ and leave. I never really got angry and reacted in a way that I would regret afterwards.”