At the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup, central defender Ma played the full 80 minutes in all four of China's games. The hosts reached the quarter-finals before losing 1–0 to Sweden. Ma scored the first ever goal at a FIFA Women's World Cup after 22 minutes of the opening match; China's 4–0 win over eventual finalists Norway on 16 November 1991. She headed Wu Weiying's free kick from the right flank past Norway's goalkeeper Reidun Seth.