Brazil’s next participation in a World Cup may also be the Seleção’s last chance to be led by perhaps the greatest player in history. The historic scorer of Brazil (and World Cups too) is Marta, who at 33 years old will play her fifth tournament with the iconic number 10 shirt.
She may not be the indomitable force that won the Golden Boot in 2007 after scoring seven goals, but – as current and former international stars will attest – she remains a fearsome opponent, performs without and with a remarkable legacy.
What is it like to play against Marta?
Hope Solo, exporter from the United States: «As with other great players, I didn’t see many videos of the best, I just wanted to react. I needed to not know anything about her and just trust myself… I saw her make a self-pass with a little Chilean in the 2007 World Cup, It was amazing. Nobody has the confidence to do that in training, let alone in a match. I wasn’t in goal in that match, but my jaw dropped. I think the camera caught me on the bench.»
Kate Markgraf, former US defender: «Defending Marta meant facing someone and very surely losing the individual duel despite the confidence we have as defenses that nobody will be able to beat us. I faced each duel 1 on 1 and thought ‘I’m going to do my best’ and the best you could hope for because you couldn’t really take the ball from him. It’s not like he was trying to move or push you but he was just better than you in grit, agility, speed, tactical level. It was something that I bragged about that no one could beat me, but she could.»
Kelly Smith, former England striker: «Marta has always been a difficult player to stop because of her speed, vision and scoring ability. She knew what she was going to do before she got the ball. She had scary speed, from zero to whatever she wanted. She could cover ground quickly with the ball glued to his feet. He could run with the ball faster than others without it.»
Marta during the ceremony of investiture to the Hall of Fame of the Maracanã Stadium. Getty Images
What is it like to play with Marta?
Cristiane, Brazil striker: «Playing with her since I was 15 was easy. I don’t have to talk to her, I just watch. She understands how I want to play the ball and where I want the ball. She understands my positioning. She’s super easy to play with.»
Camilinha, Brazil defender: «She’s very hyperactive. When we come out of training she wants to play tennis, we come out of another she wants to play badminton, we come out of another and she wants to go to the park. If we come out of training in America she wants to go shooting. I’m like, ‘What? I’m tired after training’ and ‘Do you want to do that?’ and she tells me ‘Come on! You’re 24 years old. Look how old I am and everything I’ve played and I’m not tired’. At all times it is connected to 220 volts «.
Fabiana, Brazil striker: «I was always shy and the first time I saw her I didn’t take my eyes off her. I was seeing her recently and now I’m playing with her. She always told me to dance because I’m from Bahia, from Salvador, and she told me ‘Dance the arrocha‘. He timidly replied ‘No, no, I don’t want to dance’ and she insisted ‘Dance, we want to see you dance’. Then she would move her hip and say ‘You see? If you know’. Now we have been friends for 12 years. She is a great friend who gave me soccer.»
Vadão, Brazil national team coach: «When we convinced Formiga to come back, Marta approached me and said, ‘Give her the captain’s armband, not me. Formiga is going to come back, we have to motivate her with everything. I don’t want to be captain again.’ Then I spoke with Formiga who said ‘No, as long as Marta is on the court she is the captain, not me’. It was a very nice situation, without vanity, without anything, because the captain’s armband makes many athletes vain and there was humility on both sides».
Fabiana: «Sometimes, even in a shell, she loses and she gets furious. If she loses and she sees that her training wasn’t good enough she runs away and trains for another 20 minutes. If you see Marta very quiet you can be sure she’s thinking about something else. She’s not going to give up.»
Marcelo and Marta with their awards from The Best ceremony in 2018. Getty Images
Martha’s Legacy
Kristine Lilly, former United States midfielder: «A player like Marta is like Michelle Akers or Mia Hamm. When they step on the field the other team reacts with concern. She is a very creative player, she plays with a lot of passion. Growing up on the streets of Brazil with nothing and standing out, seeing what she has done for the game, for her country and for herself is impressive».
Camilinha: «Very often I see her as my second mother for all the experience she gives me, for the conversations we have, the friendship we have built over time. I always tell her that I am her fan. I am her friend, but I am a fan of her work , of the person she is, of the professional she is, of how much she fights for the sport, for women. She wants me to take advantage of everything she sown. «
Christiane: «She knows how important she is for the Brazilian team and particularly for women’s soccer because from the moment she uses what she has – her voice, experience, what she has achieved in her life and her story – she can transform the lives of other girls.»
Markgraf: «I think what she taught me is that you can respect someone despite hating them, in the most respectful way possible because she was angry and she was fighting and she hated us and she wanted to kill us when we were out there.»