Speaking in an interview (h/t Liverpool Echo for quotes), Brazil legend Cafu compared himself to Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold and claimed they both share a lot of similarities with each other.
When a young right-back is making his mark in the sport- one who can attack and defend well- Cafu is one of the first names that the player would be compared to. A World Cup-winning captain with Brazil, he has lifted the Jules Rimet trophy twice in his career- once in 1994, and then in 2002.
He played for clubs such as Roma, Palmeiras, and AC Milan- bombing the wings with his forward runs to aid the attackers while also helping out in defence. Those who watched him during his heyday would appreciate his overall play as a right-back.
Being compared to Cafu, who made 142 appearances for Brazil in one of their most dominant eras, is a compliment for just about every footballer in the world. For Trent, the comparisons have come from the legend himself, who says:
“He is young, strong and has developed hugely considering his age. He also has a lot of experience and I see a lot of similarities between him and myself.”
Calling Trent one of the ‘best right-backs in the world’, Cafu explained in detail why he thinks the England international has a lot in common with him.
“We both had a will and commitment to attack, to go forward and have the boldness to shoot and to put the crosses in. The diagonal movements he makes on the pitch are also similar to what I was making as a player.”
This is one of the biggest compliments a player can get. But then again, it is fully deserved given how important the young English full-back has become to Liverpool’s success.
Just 23, he is burdened with much of the Reds’ creativity down the right-hand side, and that has been the case for a couple of seasons now. While some may question his contribution in defence, he has held his own against some of the top wingers in Europe over the years.
Only Mohamed Salah has more PL assists than him this season, and the Liverpool youth academy product has created 19 goals for his teammates across all club competitions this season.
If he maintains that trajectory, he can perhaps be called one of the greatest right-backs ever in the sport. Winning two World Cups with a team such as England, coached by Gareth Southgate, may be very tough, but at least he is exceeding all expectations at club level.
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