Cafu (left) - sets a record on Sunday. (Allsport)

By From Mark Bradley, PA Sport Chief Soccer Writer, Yokohama

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When the final whistle blew on Brazil's World Cup semi-final success against Turkey, captain Cafu paused only momentarily to swap shirts and acknowledge the celebratory carnival gathering life in the stands before disappearing from view.

He ran straight to the dressing-room, where he turned on his mobile phone and called his wife and three children.

The first three words said it all. "I've got there," he told them simply before breaking down in tears.

For the 32-year-old Brazil captain will be achieving the first step of a lifetime goal when he makes his way onto the pitch for Sunday's final against Germany.

Not only will be setting a national record of 111 caps but he will also become the first player to play in three World Cup finals. Pele and Lothar Matthaus may have taken part in three tournaments, but neither of them played in three finals.

"I just sat on the stairs in front of the dressing room and shared this moment with my family. I was crying with joy," revealed Cafu.

"I am just so pleased. It has taken a long time and I know I am one of the rare players to accomplish this."

Starting the match is just the first step though. The real goal is to lift the trophy. For the hurt experienced in 1998, when Brazil surrendered so tamely to France, still rancours.

"I am making a lot of effort not to let the fact that I'm making a double record blind me from the main goal, which is winning the final," he insisted.

"We feel that if we don't win, then we have lost everything. It would be a disaster even bigger than in 1998 not to win this World Cup.

"In 1998, everyone said that we had won the game before the match. We were taught a lesson and now we have to be very concentrated to make sure that doesn't happen again."

Not everyone has appreciated Cafu's role in Brazil's conversion from World Cup outsiders to favourites though.

Despite having been a mainstay of the national team for so long - making his international debut in September 1990 - he has developed more than his fair share of critics.

Even amid Brazil's victorious run to the final, they have labelled him as a poor captain, inept defender and worse.

They are by no means the majority but they are certainly vocal.

Cafu, however, has taken it on the chin and let the results speak for themselves.

His team-mates and coach have been quick to pay tribute to his impact, with his forceful attacking runs matching those of Roberto Carlos in giving Brazil penetration down the flanks.

Ronaldo insisted: "We learn from Cafu. He is the first man I have seen who has so much experience but asks us advice. He has been a lesson to us."

Boss Luiz Felipe Scolari added: "His contribution to the team is so important. As captain, he has been doing a beautiful job.

"He has been giving of himself and sacrificing himself for the team, both on and off the pitch. He is one of the true leaders of this national team and of this campaign so far."

Individual awards still elude him. While Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho were named in FIFA's 16-man squad of the tournament - as were Sol Campbell and Fernando Hierro - Cafu was not.

Pele was reported to have admitted just how unfair that is on his country's consistent captain.

Cafu, who came on as substitute in the 1994 final, responded: "Coming from Pele, who is an athlete of the century, it's a huge compliment.

"I thank him for that but the only thing I want to say is how hard I'm working with the team to bring the cup back."

Scolari may have been attempting to take the pressure off his side ahead of the game, but Cafu is still willing to assume the responsibility for the team's fortunes.

The wing-back, who joined Roma in 1997 from Palmeiras in Brazil, insisted: "We are responsible for whatever happens on the pitch.

"It was very nice of the coach to try to take this away from us, but we have to understand what we have to do to bring this cup back home.

"This is our obligation and that's the only thing we are thinking about. This is a group of very professional and experienced people. It's a group of leaders."

There are only two leaders who can lift the World Cup on Sunday, however.

One of them, Germany's Oliver Kahn is feted as his country's hero. The other, Cafu, is not. But he could yet have the last laugh and there are few who should begrudge him that.