Cafu: Ronnie is our Pele

Brazil captain Cafu says Ronaldinho can lay claim to being the Pele of his generation.

The legendary Brazilian figure has been the benchmark for all of the country's top strikers, including such stars as Zico, Romario and Ronaldo, after scoring over 1,000 career goals and earning a reputation as one of the two best all-time players.

Although Real Madrid star Ronaldo is still favourite to win the Golden Boot at the World Cup in Germany, Cafu believes the mantle of 'the next Pele' has now passed to two time Fifa World Player of the Year Ronaldinho.

The Barcelona superstar is unrivalled in his dazzling array of tricks, passes and goals, and a stunning World Cup would only serve to underline his largely untroubled status as the globe's best player.

Now his international captain Cafu has gone as far as to suggest that the former Paris Saint Germain ace could be on the same level as the great Pele in his prime.

"Of all the players at the World Cup I don't think it is too much to compare Ronaldinho with the great Pele," said Cafu.

"Ronaldinho is very complete. He's a good header of the ball, he strikes it well with both feet, he dribbles, he scores.

"His current moments can certainly be compared with Pele's best moments.

"He hasn't done yet what Pele did for the game, but he still has a lot to come.

"Pele was the best of his era, Diego Maradona was the Pele of the Eighties, and Ronaldinho is the Pele of our time.

"We've had other great players such as Ronaldo and Rivaldo, but none of them has lived such a moment as the one Ronaldinho is living now, he is making a real impact."

However, Cafu also has respect for England's strike-force, insisting that Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, should he be fit, are one of the world's most potent partnerships.

"Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen form one of the best attacking duos in football, both are very quick and deadly," Cafu added.

"Rooney is one of those players that you don't have to see playing too many times to notice that he is different.

"He is above average, fast, strong and still young.

"Whether he is fit to play yet we don't know, but we are going to hear about Rooney for many years to come."

The Milan full-back is one of the most experienced players in World Cup history having played in the last three finals, and four years ago he led his side to a quarter final victory over Sven Goran Eriksson's men en route to Brazil's fifth triumph.

Cafu admits the 2-1 win over England was a difficult affair, and he is expecting The Three Lions to challenge strongly in 2006 despite a lack of strength in depth.

"England are one of the favourites for the World Cup, along with a few other European teams and Argentina.

"Our match against England in 2002 was very tight and we had to work very hard to win, so there is no reason not to think that England will be one of Brazil's strongest rivals in Germany.

"They are a very balanced side, with good players in every sector of the field, that is the most important thing in football nowadays.

"The problem is they don't have substitutes at the same level as the starters, that is the problem for most of the European favourites this year."