Nelson Dida
Made his debut for Brazil in July 1995, against Ecuador, aged 21. Currently playing for AC Milan, Dida has won 85 caps for Brazil (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: July 10, 1973
Height: 1.95m (6ft 4in)
Fact: Dida was named in FIFA's World XI line-up in September 2005.

Júlio César
Made his debut for Brazil in July 2004, against Chile, aged 24. Currently playing for Inter Milan, César has won 11 caps for Brazil (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: September 3, 1979
Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in)
Fact: César was a member of Brazil's U17 team that reached the final of the World Championship in Ecuador in 1995.

Rogério Ceni
Made his debut for Brazil in December 1997, against Mexico, aged 23. Currently playing for Sao Paolo, Ceni has won 16 caps for Brazil (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 22, 1973
Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
Fact: Ceni was named as FIFA's Player of the Tournament at the World Club Championships in Japan in 2005, his club São Paulo defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the final to win the competition.

Defenders

Cafu
Made his debut for Brazil in September 1990, against Spain, aged 19. Currently playing for AC Milan, Cafu has won 137 caps for Brazil and scored 5 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: June 7, 1970
Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
Fact: The most-capped player in the current squad, and one of the most experienced players of all time at a senior international level, this summer will be Cafu's fourth taste of World Cup football.

Cicinho
Made his debut for Brazil in April 2005, against Guatemala, aged 24. Currently playing for Real Madrid, Cicinho has won 10 caps for Brazil and scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: June 24, 1980
Height: 1.71m (5ft 7in)
Fact: Cicinho won the FIFA World Club Championship with his former club Sao Paolo in December 2005; he joined Real Madrid the following month.

Cris
Made his debut for Brazil in April 1999, against United States, aged 22. Currently playing for French side Lyon, Cris has won 22 caps for Brazil and scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: March 6, 1977
Height: 1.83m (6ft)
Fact: Cris played two games for at German side Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 while on loan from Brazilian side Cruzeiro but failed to secure a permanent move to Europe until August 2004, when he joined Lyon.

Juan
Made his debut for Brazil in July 2001, against Peru, aged 22. Currently playing for German side Bayer Leverkusen, Juan has won 37 caps for Brazil and scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 1, 1979
Height: 1.82m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Juan played in the final of the Copa America for Brazil against Argentina in July 2004; the game finished 2-2 after extra time and went to a penalty shoot-out, during which Juan converted his attempt.

Lucio
Made his debut for Brazil in November 2000, against Colombia, aged 22. Currently playing for Bayern Munich, Lucio has won 49 caps for Brazil and scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 8, 1978
Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
Fact: Lucio played alongside fellow defender Juan at Bayer Leverkusen before joining Bayern Munich in 2004.

Gilberto
Made his debut for Brazil in February 2005, against Hong Kong, aged 28. Currently playing for Hertha BSC Berlin, Gilberto has won 8 caps for Brazil and scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 25, 1976
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Gilberto began his professional career in 1993; before joining Hertha Berlin in 2004 he had played for six different Brazilian clubs as well as spending the 1999-2000 season with Inter Milan.

Roberto Carlos
Made his debut for Brazil in February 1992, against United States aged 18. Currently playing for Real Madrid, Roberto Carlos has won 120 caps for Brazil and scored 11 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 10, 1973
Height: 1.68m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Roberto Carlos received the UEFA award as the Best Defender in Europe in 2003.

Luisao
Made his debut for Brazil in February 2003, against China, aged 22. Currently playing for Benfica, Luisao has won 26 caps for Brazil and scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 13, 1981
Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in)
Fact: Luisao scored a late goal for Benfica in the first leg of their Champions' League tie with Liverpool in February; the tie finished 1-0 to Benfica, who won the second leg 2-0, thereby knocking the English side out of the competition.