In an inspiring conversation, former Brazilian national team player and one of football’s greatest idols, Marcos Evangelista de Morais, better known as Cafu, shared his view of leadership, the importance of investing in people and his trajectory outside the fields. The interview, conducted by Rafael Furlanetti, institutional director of XP, plunged not only to the memories of one of the greatest captains in history, but also in how the values he carries guided him in his post-football life.
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Cafu, born in Jardim Irene, a simple neighborhood of the far south of São Paulo, spoke about the influence of his parents, both miners, in their formation. “With a simple word, my father and mother have changed my life,” he says, remembering the motivating guidelines of your parents, as “you can, you can, you conquer.” These teachings were crucial for him to overcome the many obstacles faced throughout his career, especially the moments of rejection in the sieve of soccer clubs.
No one wins alone
Leadership, one of the qualities that made Cafu stand out on the pitch, is something that it brings with it to this day. During his time in the 2002 Brazilian team, the captain highlighted how he led renowned players, such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Kaka. For him, the key to leadership is an example. “The leader needs to be respected,” he emphasizes.
Cafu explains that, as a leader, his mission was to ensure that each player felt responsible and valued within his function. “No one wins alone. The leader is one who solves the team’s problems and extracts the best of each player,” he says.
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In addition to football, Cafu sought to positively impact young people’s lives. He mentioned his social project Cafuzinho, which aims to help children from the periphery develop a winning mindset.
Pressure
The experience in football also taught him how to deal with the pressure and expectations of the media and the public. “Failure does not define who you are,” says Cafu, who believes that perseverance and the ability to learn with errors are fundamental to long -term success, both on the pitch and outside it.
Cafu shared a very clear view: “The bigger you are, the greater your responsibility to others.” According to him, success not only brings more responsibilities, but also requires more commitment to others, something he sees as essential in both sports and corporate environment.
