Neymar & the 6 Other Players to Win 100 or More Caps for Brazil
The nation of Brazil is synonymous with football.
They live and breathe the beautiful game, from kids bundled-up socks on the street to superstars donning the famous yellow and blue of the Seleção. To represent the side on over 100 occasions is the stuff every man, woman and child dreams of.
27-year-old Neymar has become the youngest Brazil player to reach 100 international caps.#Brazil pic.twitter.com/8t8koAEVE6
— TREQUARTISTA (@TheSporTalk)October 10, 2019
However, only a select few are fortunate enough to receive a century of caps for Brazil. Their 1-1 draw with Senegal at the Singapore National Stadium on Thursday saw another player added to the list that list, with Neymar reaching the landmark at just 27-years-of-age.
Here, 90min briefly recaps the international career of the Paris Saint-Germain forward, as well as six others to amass 100 appearances for the South Americans.
Neymar
Caps: 100
When he was still just a fresh-faced teenager, Neymar earned his first Brazil call-up, kick-starting a rollercoaster ride with the Seleção.
A mixture of agony and ecstasy colour the striker's international history. His tournament debut came in the 2011 Copa America, where his strong showings failed to save his country from a quarter-final exit at the hands of Paraguay.
Then came what promised to be the defining moment of the poster boy's career - a home World Cup. You probably don't need reminding that Neymar and his teammates fell in the semis, an entire nation weeping in anguish as Germany romped to a 7-1 triumph.
Redemption followed that nightmare, with the trickster's blast from the spot sealing a penalty-shootout win in the final of the Rio Olympics.
He's now third in the all-time scoring charts, Neymar's tally of 61 goals leaving him only one behind the legendary Ronaldo. Pele is the next one in his sights.
Robinho
Caps: 100
Despite hitting the 100-cap mark, Robinho's time in yellow and blue was somewhat underwhelming, the winger's performances rarely matching his potential.
Nevertheless, he can call himself a continental conqueror, having won the Copa America in 2007, as well as a pair of FIFA Confederations Cup trophies.
That elusive World Cup triumph will haunt Robinho, however. He was scapegoated for much of Brazil's ineptitude in South Africa nearly a decade ago, yet the forward continued to represent his nation until 2017, when he was sentenced after being found guilty of rape.
Claudio Taffarel
Caps: 104
Claudio Taffarel's superb abilities between the sticks helped him become goalkeeping coach for both Brazil and Galatasaray once he decided to hang up his gloves.
When fans the world over marvelled at the silky skills of the Samba Boys in the late 20th century, the Santa Rosa native was the often-unheralded last line of defence.
His steady hands ensured Taffarel became the proud owner of a World Cup winner's medal, plus two for the Copa America.
The 'keeper conceded just three goals at USA '94, his intimidating presence contributing to Roberto Baggio's infamous miss during the penalty-shootout in the final.
Lucio
Caps: 105
What a horrifyingly-good centre-back Lucio was. Back in his heyday, rampaging runs up-field were commonplace for the colossus.
With a towering, rock-solid defender like him in the heart of their backline, it's no surprise the South Americans were crowned champions of the world in 2002.
A player like Lucio only comes once every generation - if you were fortunate to watch him at the peak of his powers, you'll know just how influential the big man was.
Dani Alves
Caps: 107
No player in the history of the game has been as successful as Dani Alves. 40 different trophies have been collected across a stupendous 17-year career that refuses to end.
The epitome of an attacking full-back, Alves' turbo-charged feet and bottomless engine saw him dominate, wherever he lay his hat.
But, yet again, there is a glaring omission from the defender's trophy cabinet. He - like countless compatriots - blossomed too late to play a part in the days when Brazil were at the top of the sport.
Roberto Carlos
Caps: 125
Have you ever heard someone described as 'the Serbian Roberto Carlos'? Or 'the Welsh Roberto Carlos'? Or any other version of Roberto Carlos, for that matter? How about the Roberto Carlos?
There's a reason why the Real Madrid icon has such a magnificent legacy and reputation among supporters and players, alike. Carlos reinvented what it meant to be a full-back, scoring screamers at will as he bombed forward for club and country.
With quads of the gods, the centurion was capable of ripping the net in half, yet he was about so much more than raw power. Delicious ball-control, pin-point crossing and positional awareness made him an unstoppable force of nature.
Cafu
Caps: 142
Cafu's defensive skills were freakish. The right-back's consistency was stunning. His leadership qualities could motivate any man.
19 fabulous years as a professional footballer yielded numerous honours for the skipper, who was arguably the greatest ever player in his position.
Of course, a man like Cafu was more than capable of performing other roles, occasionally appearing as a winger or central-defender. There truly was nothing that the double World Cup champion couldn't do.
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