Marta (footballer)

**Marta Vieira da Silva** (born 19 February 1986), dem know am as **Marta**, be Brazilian professional footballer wey dey play as forward give de Orlando Pride insyd de National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) den de Brazil national team. Dem widely dey regard Marta as one of de greatest female footballers of all time. Na dem name am FIFA World Player of de Year six times, five of them be consecutive (from 2006 thru 2010) den de latest award cam insyd 2018.

Marta dey hold de record for Brazil ein top goalscorer plus 119 goals. Plus 17 goals, Marta sanso dey hold de record for most goals dem score insyd any World Cup, women’s anaa men's. Moreover, na she be de first footballer of any gender make she score for five different World Cups, feat match by Christine Sinclair insyd 2019 den Cristiano Ronaldo insyd 2022, den sanso be de first footballer, female anaa male, make she score for five consecutive Olympic Games. Na she be member of de Brazilian national teams wey win de silver medal for de 2004 den 2008 Summer Olympics. Na den sanso award am de Golden Ball (MVP) for de 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship wey she win both de Golden Ball award as de best player den de Golden Boot award as de top scorer insyd de 2007 Women's World Cup after she lead Brazil to de final of de tournament.

For de club level, Marta win de UEFA Women's Cup for Swedish club Umeå IK insyd 2004 wey she win seven Swedish league championships during ein time dey play give various teams insyd de country.

Insyd January 2013, na dem name am one of de six Ambassadors of de 2014 FIFA World Cup insyd Brazil, alongsyd Amarildo, Bebeto, Carlos Alberto Torres, Ronaldo den Mario Zagallo. She sanso appear insyd de Sveriges Television television documentary series *The Other Sport* from 2013. Insys August 2016, na Marta be one of de eight make dem carry de Olympic Flag insyd de Olympic Games for Rio de Janeiro insyd. Na dem appoint am by de Secretary-General of de United Nations as Sustainable Development Goals advocate.

Insyd 2017, Marta receive Swedish citizenship wey now she get dual citizenship insyd both Brazil den Sweden.

## Club career

### Career start
Na Brazilian female coach Helena Pacheco discover Marta wen na she be 14 years old. After she play give de CSA youth team, Marta start ein professional career for Vasco da Gama insyd 2000. After two years, na dem transfer am to Santa Cruz, small club insyd de state of Minas Gerais, wer na she go play for two more seasons, before she join Umeå IK of Sweden.

### Umeå IK
Marta join Umeå IK before de 2004 season, during wich Umeå reach de final of de UEFA Women's Cup, wey win 8–0 for aggregate against Frankfurt, plus Marta score three goals over de two legs. Insyd de league, despite she amass total of 106 goals, wich na ebe 32 more dan de champions, Umeå fini second, Djurgården beat dem by single point. Marta score 22 league goals wey she get on de scoresheet top for de cup final against Djurgården, wey she score de goal per insyd 2–1 Umeå loss.

Ein second season (2005) end plus Marta wey score 21 goals den Umeå win de league, wey go undefeated. Once again, na Djurgården beat Umeå insyd de cup, dem lose by score of 3–1 insyd de final, thus dem avenge 7–0 league defeat to Umeå sam three weeks earlier.

Insyd 2006, Umeå san win de league widout losing, wey Marta, as insyd de previous year, na she be de league ein top scorer plus 21 goals. Umeå cruise to 11–1 aggregate win over Norwegian side Kolbotn FK insyd de UEFA Women's Cup, wey Marta score twice insyd both matches. For de third time for row, na she dey for de losing side top insyd de Swedish cup final wen na Linköpings FC defeat ein side 3–2.

Na de 2007 season be relatively successful give Umeå, plus de club win both de league, for wich dem fini nine points ahead of Djurgården, den de Swedish Cup, wey dem beat AIK 4–3 for match insyd wich Marta score hat-trick, de last (winning) goal dey cam three minutes from time. Marta score 25 goals insyd de league, wey dem fini one goal behind de top scorer Lotta Schelin. Insyd de UEFA Women's Cup dem reach de final for de fourth time buh dem suffer disappointment, wey dem lose 1–0 on aggregate to Arsenal.

De 2008 season see Umeå den Marta win anoda Swedish championship title. After de end of de season, speculation arise wey dey concern de future of Marta wey couple of months later, for de day of de FIFA World Player of the Year Awards insyd January 2009, Marta announce say she go play for de American side Los Angeles Sol for de next three years. For de request of Marta, de Los Angeles side sanso purchase Johanna Frisk from Umeå IK, wich lead to report by Swedish TV4 sports presenter Patrick Ekwall dat na Marta den Frisk be lesbian couple. Both players deny dis to be true.

Na Marta ein life den football prowess be depicted insyd de 2005 Swedish television documentary "Marta – Pelés kusin" ("Marta – Pelé ein cousin").

### Los Angeles Sol

For de day dem name am FIFA World Player of the Year insyd January 2009, Marta announce say she go join Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) team Los Angeles Sol give de league ein inaugural season for three-year contract. Of ein signing, she say, "For me, the most important thing is to be in a place where the best players in the world are playing, and this is what they are trying to do here. The American League is being considered one of the best in the world, so I had to come now."

Na Marta be de league ein top scorer for de 2009 season plus ten goals den three assists. Na de Sol be regular season champions wey dem reach de WPS Championship Final, wer na e lost 1–0 to Sky Blue FC.

### Santos
During de off-season plus Los Angeles Sol, she sign three-month loan contract plus Santos make dem play insyd de Copa Libertadores den insyd de Copa do Brasil, wey she help ein club win both competitions, wey she score goal insyd de Libertadores final den two insyd de Copa do Brasil final.

### FC Gold Pride

Insyd January 2010, de Sol cease operations wey de rights to Marta, den ein teammates na dem make available insyd de 2010 WPS Dispersal Draft. Na de FC Gold Pride acquire de rights to Marta as dema first pick. She appear insyd all of de Pride ein 24 games wey she score 19 goals, wey earn am de WPS MVP den WPS Golden Boot for de second year for row.

Marta sanso appear insyd de WPS All-Star 2010, wer na she captain one of de teams as de top international vote-getter. She lead de Gold Pride to de regular-season championship wey she get two assists den goal insyd de WPS Championship against de Philadelphia Independence, wey earn am MVP honors. She cam turn free agent after de Gold Pride folded for 17 November 2010.

### Return to Santos
For 16 December 2010, Santos san present Marta. Na ebe two-month contract wey fi cam turn link of year, buh e no do. De board of directors confirm e dey finalize negotiations give de club to dispute de women's football league insyd de United States insyd 2011. However, under de competition regulation, de club go get five Brazilian players per – Marta den four.

### Western New York Flash
For 25 January 2011, Marta join ein third WPS team insyd three years, de expansion team Western New York Flash, wey take over de third year of ein contract plus de Gold Pride. Na Marta ein two goals den four assists be key part of de 3–0–1 start give de team ein 2011 season.

Western New York Flash forward Marta help ein team to de Regular Season Championship title, wey she score ein tenth goal of de season insyd 2–0 victory over de Atlanta Beat for Sunday, en route to make she earn ein third consecutive PUMA Golden Boot award.  De Brazilian soccer star edge out fellow Flash forward Christine Sinclair insyd de tiebreaker, she have greater production rate base for goals per game average.

### Tyresö FF

As WPS cancell de 2012 season, Marta decide make she return to Damallsvenskan insyd Sweden. For 22 February 2012 she sign two-year contract plus Tyresö FF. Na ein extraordinary salary of about $400,000 per season dem pay by external sponsors wey e no be de club, ein owners state. Tyresö win de Damallsvenskan title for de first time insyd de 2012 season den Marta collect ein fifth league winner's medal.

Marta score twice insyd Tyresö ein 4–3 defeat by Wolfsburg insyd de 2014 UEFA Women's Champions League Final. Na Tyresö suffer financial implosion insyd 2014 wey dem withdraw from de 2014 Damallsvenskan season, dey erase all dema results den dey make all dema players free agents. De Stockholm County Administrative Board publish de players dema salaries, wey dey show Marta be de highest earner for SEK 168 000 per month.

As news of Tyresö ein financial difficulties spread, Marta link plus transfer to Avaldsnes IL. Buh de Norwegian Toppserien club ein chairmo warn say she go for take substantial pay cut. Na dem sanso report Paris Saint-Germain Féminines approach Marta den Tyresö teammate Caroline Seger.

### Rosengård
Insyd July 2014, she sign six-month contract plus defending champion FC Rosengård insyd Sweden. While plus de Swedish club, Marta win de Damallsvenskan league title insyd 2014 den 2015, de Svenska Cupen insyd 2016, den de Svenska Supercupen insyd 2015 den 2016.

### Orlando Pride
After Rosengård lost to Barcelona insyd de quarterfinals of de UEFA Women's Champions League, Marta join Orlando Pride for free transfer from Rosengård, wich dem agree make dem terminate ein contract. Na ein fresh contract plus Orlando be for two years, plus de option for third. For ein first season for Orlando, she fini second insyd de league for both goals den assists wey na dem vote am MVP by ein teammates. De Pride end de season insys third place wey earn dem dema first-ever playoff appearance wer na dem lost insyd de semi-finals to de Portland Thorns.

Ahead of de 2022 season, na dem name Marta captain wey dey follow de offseason departure of Ashlyn Harris. She suffer ACL tear for ein left knee insyd for March 26 during de second game of de 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup wey na dem place am for de club ein season-ending injury list after surgery.

For 2 October 2023, Marta cam turn de first player make she reach 100 appearances for de Pride insyd 1–0 win over Angel City FC.

Insyd de first home game of de 2024 season, Marta score de equalizer insyd de 88th minute of de 1–1 draw plus Angel City. Insyd de away game against Utah Royals, she score insyd de 68th minute of de 1–0 victory wey she claim Orlando Pride ein 200th goal.

## International career

For 26 July 2007, Marta den de Brazilian women's team beat de US U-20 national team make dem win de Pan American Games for de Estádio do Maracanã in front of crowd of 68,000. Na dem compare am, by de Brazilian fans, plus Brazilian great Pelé, dem dey bell am "Pelé with skirts." Pelé ein self agree plus de comparison. Marta say he bell am make he congratulate am for de win den dat na she be extremely happy make she hear dat one of de greatest players ever follow ein team's games. Afterward, na dem record de imprint of her feet insyd cement for de stadium, wey make am de first woman make dem honor am.

Marta participate insyd de 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup plus Brazil, wey stroll thru de group stage, wey dem win all three games plus Marta score four goals. Insyd de quarter-final, Brazil win 3–2 against Australia, plus Marta net from de penalty spot. Insyd de semi-final, Marta score twice Brazil win 4–0 against de United States— na de second goal she score spectacularly. Insyd de final, Brazil lost 2–0 to Germany. Marta get penalty kick dem save midway thru de second half, wich na e go tie de match. She fini de 2007 Women's World Cup as de winner of both de Golden Ball as de top individual player den de 'Golden Boot' as de competition ein top scorer plus seven goals.

Marta sanso play insyd de 2008 Summer Olympics, wey earn am silver medal. After ein personal duel insyd de final plus United States goalkeeper Hope Solo, 1–0 defeat consign Marta to ein third consecutive runners–up medal insyd major international tournaments.

Na Marta be part of de Brazil team for de 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, wer de United States eliminate Brazil insyd de quarter-finals. She record four goals den two assists insyd de tournament make she move joint top of de all-time women's World Cup goalscorer list alongsyd Birgit Prinz for 14. E sanso earn am de Silver Boot as de tournament ein second-leading goal scorer. From ein first touch insyd de tournament against Australia, na Marta be heavily jeered by local den opposing fans.

During ein fourth World Cup insyd 2015, Marta cam turn de all-time top scorer of de women's tournament plus 15 goals once she score de second goal insyd Brazil ein debut against South Korea. Brazil lost to Australia insyd de round-of-16.

During de 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, she cam turn de first player, male anaa female, make she score for five FIFA World Cup tournaments wen she score penalty against Australia insyd Brazil ein second group game. Insyd de next match, she score anoda penalty, dis time against Italy, make she cam turn de outright goalscorer wey dey lead, male anaa female, for de World Cup plus 17 goals for total. After na dem knock Brazil out by hosts France insyd de Round of 16, Marta give emotional interview to television cameras wer na she plead plus Brazilian girlies make dem continue de legacy of ageing legends such as ein self, Formiga, den Cristiane. She implore dem make dem "value [women's football] more" den make dem "cry at the beginning so you can smile at the end." Na de interview go viral during de tournament, plus videos get tens of thousands of retweets for Twitter top. For dat period of time, Marta enter top 10 de most popular footballer insyd de global ranking of de Wikipedia.

For 21 July 2021, she score twice insyd 5–0 win against China make she cam turn de first player make she score for five straight Olympics insyd.

For 26 April 2024, Marta announce ein retirement from international football dey follow de 2024 Summer Olympics. Na dem send am off insyd de first half stoppage time of Brazil ein final group play match against Spain, wey lef am ineligible give dema quarter-final match against France.

## Style of play

Small, quick, yet sturdy den tenacious player, wey dem dey regard am by chaw people insyd de sport as de greatest female footballer of all time, Marta be renowned for ein flair, quick feet, den exceptional skill for de ball top, wich earn am comparisons plus Ronaldinho, Romário, den sanso Pelé, wey ein self dubb am as *Pelé with skirts*. For addition to ein vision den technical skills, dem sanso know Marta for ein pace wen she dey dribble at speed. Marta be capable make she play insyd chaw offensive positions: she begin ein career insyd offensive midfield role as classic number 10, although na dem later deploy am insyd more advanced role, both as supporting forward den as main striker, anaa even for de wing top, position wich dey allow am make she cut into de middle den shoot for goal plus ein stronger left foot.

Although dem primarily know am for ein creativity, chance creation, den ability make she play off of ein teammates as advanced playmaker, Marta be prolific goalscorer, wey be renowned for ein striking ability; she sanso be accurate from penalties den set-pieces. For addition to ein footballing abilities, Marta sanso stand out give ein leadership.

## Ein life matter
Marta get three siblings, José, Valdir, den Angela. Ein parents be Aldário den Tereza. Ein poppie lef de family while na Marta be baby. Insyd 2010, na dem name Marta United Nations Development Programme goodwill ambassador den insyd 2018 UN Women goodwill ambassador. Marta be fluent insyd Portuguese, Swedish den English. She be Catholic wey dey state say God be very important to am, although she no dey go church often. Insyd 2016, na dem list am as one of BBC ein 100 Women.

Insyd March 2017, Marta receive Swedish citizenship. She retain ein Brazilian citizenship den, she already cap by Brazil; e no make am eligible make she represent Sweden. She gain U.S. green card insyd February 2021, wey dey give am permanent residency status wey sanso dey qualify am as domestic player give NWSL roster purposes.

## Career statistics

### Club

: *As of 14 April 2024*

# **^** NWSL Fall Series

## Honours

**Umeå IK**
* Damallsvenskan: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
* Svenska Cupen: 2007
* UEFA Women's Cup: 2003–04; runner-up: 2006–07, 2007–08

**Santos**

* Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Femenino: 2009
* Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino: 2009

**FC Gold Pride**

* WPS Championship: 2010

**Western New York Flash**

* WPS Championship: 2011

**Tyresö FF**

* Damallsvenskan: 2012
* UEFA Women's Champions League runner-up: 2013–14

**FC Rosengård**

* Damallsvenskan: 2014, 2015

**Brazil**

* Pan American Games: 2003, 2007
* Sudamericano Femenino: 2003, 2010, 2018
* FIFA Women's World Cup runner-up: 2007
* Summer Olympics runner-up: 2004, 2008

**Individual**

* FIFA World Player of de Year/The Best FIFA Women's Player – Winner (6): 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2018
* The Best FIFA Women's Player – runner-up: 2016
* FIFPro World XI: 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021
* Damallsvenskan Top Scorer: 2004, 2005, 2008
* FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2004
* FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Boot: 2007
* FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2007
* FIFA Best Special Award: 2023
* WPS Golden Boot: 2009, 2010, 2011
* Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award: 2009, 2010
* Sudamericano Femenino Golden Boot: 2010
* *Sports Illustrated* Top 20 Female Athletes of de Decade (2000–2009) (#7)
* IFFHS World's Best Woman Playmaker: 2012
* IFFHS Women's World Team: 2018
* IFFHS World's Best Woman Player of de Decade 2011–2020
* IFFHS CONMEBOL Best Woman Player of de Decade 2011–2020
* IFFHS World's Woman Team of de Decade 2011–2020
* IFFHS CONMEBOL Woman Team of de Decade 2011–2020

**Records**

* FIFA Women's World Cup all-time record goalscorer (17)

## References


## Read further

* Friedman, Ian C. (2007), *Latino Athletes*, Infobase Publishing, ISBN 1438107846
* Grainey, Timothy (2012), *Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer*, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
* Kassouf, Jeff (2011), *Girls Play to Win Soccer*, Norwood House Press, ISBN 1599534649
* McDougall, Chrös (2012), *Soccer*, ABDO,ISBN 1614785554
* Richards, Ted (2013), *Soccer and Philosophy: Beautiful Thoughts on the Beautiful Game*, Open Court, ISBN 0812696824
* Stevens, Dakota (2011), *A Look at the Women's Professional Soccer Including the Soccer Associations, Teams, Players, Awards, and More*, BiblioBazaar, ISBN 1241047464
* Velázquez de León, Mauricio (2010), *20 Soccer Superstars*, The Rosen Publishing Group, ISBN 1615329471

## External links
Wikimedia Commons get media wey relate to ******.

* Official website 
* Marta at Soccerway.com
* Marta at WorldFootball.net
* Marta at kicker (insyd German)
* Marta at FBref.com
* Marta at de Swedish Football Association (insyd Swedish)
* Marta – FIFA competition record (archived)
* Marta – UEFA competition record (archive)
* Marta at de National Women's Soccer League
* "WPS profile". Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.