Brazil legend Marta has left an indelible mark on the women's game. ESPN spoke to those who know her best to tell the story of her career.
Sha'Carri Richardson leads relay team to gold, U.S. women's hoops to play France in final and more from Friday in ParisAlexis Nunes and Ali Krieger speak about the impact Marta has on football at both club and international level. in the final group-stage game against Spain, it looked like her career would end on a low as she was banned for the quarterfinals and semifinals.
She had grown up in poverty, playing without shoes, then later stuffing newspaper into the bottom of her used boots to make them fit. Her single mother had worked long hours to provide for her and three siblings. But she would dribble and weave with the ball like it was tied to her foot.Born to? Everyone says that now, but supposed to? Definitely not. There were always comments."She can't play, she's a girl," they often said.
"I asked her if she had ever played football," Pacheco tells ESPN, to which Marta said she had only played on small pitches.But what Marta didn't say with her mouth, she said with her eyes. While they spoke, Pacheco says that Marta's eyes remained fixated on the ball at a match going on nearby:"I turned to my assistant coach, Marcos, and said: 'Wow, this girl looks like she's going to play ball really well.
It was around that time when she first met Formiga, who would go on to play 234 times for Brazil. In their first training session together, Formiga couldn't believe the energy she was bringing. Marta arrived and instantly said:"Let's train, let's go, let's go, let's go!" Most of the time she won, but there were times when she lost, too."Then the goalkeepers would make fun of her," Formiga adds."And she had to pay for it , too."
"I didn't come up with it . I swear to god, you can ask her, I didn't come up with it," Formiga says."Zeferina Baldaia's TV special was on. I looked at it. The girls said: 'Wow, she looks like Zefa' ... Then it started. 'Zeferina, Zeferina, Baldaia, Zeferina.' It's a good thing she didn't care too much because otherwise people would have gone on and on.
They arranged a time for Marta to be at the other end of the line. It was 2 a.m. in Sweden when they spoke.Until then, no Brazilian women's player had played outside of Brazil. When Marta went to Pacheco with the news that a Swedish side wanted to sign her, Pacheco was as concerned as Marta was. "They gave her lifts to and from training because my Mum and Dad lived about 20 minutes outside of Umea," Barbosa's daughter, Josefin, tells ESPN."So they were out all day just driving her back and forth and preparing food and washing her laundry. She was young, she's never been doing that. She was a child."
Marta was third that year behind Germany's Birgit Prinz and the USWNT's Mia Hamm. The following year, she came second, again behind Prinz. But she won the award for the first time in 2006 before going on to win it five times in a row between 2006 and 2010, then again in 2018. "I think the U.S. team at that point had this ability to just keep pushing for 90 minutes where every other team kind of faltered at the 70th."Moving to Sweden changed Marta's life. For the first time, she had seen women's football taken seriously, with a proper league structure and sold-out stadiums when she played. By 2006, after winning the World Player of the Year award, she had gained respect in Brazil, too. Even in her hometown of Dois Riachos.
"I have had many great moments, the silver medal at the Olympics the honour of best player but this was a very special day,"It's hard to overstate just how much of a shock the 2007 Women's World Cup semifinal was. The USWNT were the reigning Olympic Champions and on a 51-game unbeaten run; yet, entering the 78th minute of the match, they were 3-0 down and living a nightmare.
As the 80th minute arrived, Marta danced through some more U.S. players to perform her best trick yet. Receiving the ball on the right corner of the Americans' 18-yard box with her back to goal, she flicked the ball one side of Ellertson and bolted round the other before beating another player and firing into the net under goalkeeper Briana Scurry.It was Brazil's fourth goal and secured them a place in the World Cup final for the first time.
"We always said that if they got together as much as we did, this would be an entirely different competition between the two of us," Boxx tells ESPN."It was still difficult, but it was almost like we were like, gosh, man, if they had gotten the backing that we had as a U.S. team, this could have been a very dangerous team that won a lot of big events.""She cries for everyone," Formiga says.
So the UN officials crunched the numbers. At that time, it was between Niger and Sierra Leone, and soon she was headed for the latter. Upon arrival, Marta decided they should put on a women's football match and that she would coach."Her message all the time was: 'Nothing's impossible. Take my example,'" Poltier-Mutal says.
Just like at the 2007 Pan Am Games, Brazil stepped out at a packed Maracanã, this time in the semifinals up against Sundhage's Sweden. The match ended in a 0-0 draw and went to penalties. Marta stepped up and scored, but the shootout ended with a Swedish victory. When Brazil midfielder Andressa Alves missed the decisive penalty, Marta stood for a second in shock and then slumped to the ground in tears.
"This is just an emotional moment," she said, tears filling her eyes."I would like to be here smiling but here I am crying with joy. That's the most important thing: cry in the beginning so you can smile at the end."
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Brazil appeals Marta's suspension for the Paris Olympics semifinalsBrazil has appealed FIFA’s decision to suspend Marta for two matches after her red card in the group stage of the women’s soccer tournament at the Olympics. Brazil is set to face World Cup champion Spain in a semifinal match in Marseille on Tuesday.
Les mer »
US women’s soccer team to play Brazil in final as Marta bids for golden farewellThe US women’s national team has found the breakthrough against Germany!
Les mer »
Marta shown red card in potential Brazil Olympics farewellBrazil legend Marta was shown a straight red card in what could be her final major tournament appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Les mer »
Brazil's Marta in Tears After Receiving a Red Card in the OlympicsMarta’s dangerous challenge earned her a red card.
Les mer »
Spain tops group at the Olympics, Brazil's Marta sent off in last major tournamentAthenea del Castillo and Alexia Putellas both scored and Spain defeated Brazil 2-0 in an Olympic group finale that was spoiled for the Brazilians when captain Marta was sent off with red card late in the first half.
Les mer »
Blake Lively Lives Out Her “Sugar Plum Fairy Dreams” in a White Tutu and Beaded BraletteBeyond being a superstar Marvel superhero, Ryan Reynolds is a superstar father and husband.
Les mer »