In soccer, a “cap” represents an official appearance in a competitive match for a national team. Each time a player participates in such a game, they earn one. For example, if a player represents their country in a World Cup qualifying match, that counts as a single appearance, thus awarding them one. This system recognizes and records the number of times an individual has played at the highest level for their nation.
The accumulation of these appearances is a significant achievement for any player, demonstrating longevity, skill, and dedication to their country’s cause. The number of times a player has represented their nation becomes a key part of their legacy, often used to compare players across generations. Historically, this system has served as a primary metric for evaluating the contributions of individual players to their national teams.
