Cafu has said that Jon Flanagan reminds him of himself when he was a young footballer.
The Liverpool defender has drawn comparisons with the former Brazil international since making his first-team debut with the Anfield side.
The 44-year-old told FourFourTwo.com: "Liverpool is a team that I follow. Lucas Leiva invited me to the final game of the season, and after the match I got the chance to meet Flanagan again. He has got great potential and I think he has an exciting future ahead of him.
"Hopefully he is going to be a more regular fixture in the World Cup one day, and I wish him all the best in his career.
"He is a very young player with a desire to push himself far. They were the characteristics I had when I was a young, and that self-belief can make you become a good player."