Marta DA SILVA

Brazil

Football

Olympic Medals

Games Participations6

First Olympic GamesAthens 2004

Year of Birth1986

Social Media

Biography

Marta Vieira Da Silva, known more commonly as Marta, grew up in Dois Riachos, Brazil. Her football journey began on the dusty streets of her hometown, playing barefoot with the local boys' teams. Her talent quickly drew attention, leading to her debut with Vasco da Gama's women's team at just 14.

After two years, the striker moved to Santa Cruz in Belo Horizonte where she found the net regularly. Two years later, in 2004, she joined Sweden's UEFA Women's Cup (now Champions League) holders Umea IK. Marta slotted in seamlessly, scoring crucial goals in the semi-final win over Brondby. In the two-legged final, she scored three times in the 8-0 aggregate win over 1.FFC Frankfurt as they retained their European crown.

Marta went on to fire Umea to four consecutive Swedish league titles and Champions League final appearances in 2007 and 2008. She was also named FIFA World Player of the Year three times from 2006-08. After a hugely successful five seasons in which she averaged just over a goal a game, the Brazilian star moved to Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) outfit Los Angeles Sol.

In her first season in the States, Marta led the Sol to the regular season title and won the league MVP and Golden Boot awards. But the side were beaten in the WPS Championship Final by Sky Blue FC. She then went on loan to Santos in her native Brazil and helped them clinch the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil titles.

When the Sol went out of business in January 2010, Marta joined FC Gold Pride where she linked up with Canadian forward Christine Sinclair to devastating effect. Marta repeated her league MVP and Golden Boot wins and Gold Pride topped the regular season standings and won the WPS Championship. Less than two months after that triumph, the club ceased operations

Both Marta - who had claimed a fifth consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year award - and Sinclair went to Western New York Flash. They led their new side to the WPS regular season title and the WPS Championship with both women successful from the spot in the penalty shoot-out win over Philadelphia Independence.

When the WPS folded, Marta returned to Sweden to play for Tyresö. In her first season, the side won the 2012 league title. In 2014, she would reach another Champions League final but Tyresö were defeated by German side Wolfsburg.

After two years at Tyresö, Marta joined rivals Rosengård. She helped them retain their Swedish league title in 2014 and win it again the following season.

Marta returned to the United States in 2017, signing for the Orlando Pride. In her first season, she scored 13 goals in 24 league games as the Pride made the NWSL playoffs but fell in the semi-finals. The side has not reached the post-season since.

Marta: Brazil national team trailblazer

Marta made her national team debut at 16 in 2002. For over two decades, she has led them to success starting with Sudamericano Femenino (now the Copa America Femenina) and Pan American Games triumphs in 2003.

On her Olympic debut at Athens 2004, she scored three goals - and strike partner Cristiane five - to help Brazil reach the final but the side went down 2-1 to the United States in extra time.

At the 2007 World Cup, Marta was the tournament's top scorer with seven goals including two in Brazil's stunning 4-0 semi-final win over Olympic champions USA. But in the final, Germany maintained their record of not conceding a goal during the entire tournament and won 2-0 to consign the South Americans to second place again.

The same fate befell Brazil at Beijing 2008 where, like Athens, she scored three goals and Cristiane five to send them through to the final. Neither could find the net in the gold medal game as USA retained their crown thanks to a solitary long-range strike from Carli Lloyd in extra time.

Brazil have since failed to reach those heights again in global competition although they lost out in the bronze medal match on home soil at Rio 2016 with Marta's former clubmate Sinclair scoring Canada's winner. She did lead the side to a third Copa America Femenina title in 2018, a triumph which helped her secure a sixth FIFA World Player of the Year award.

At Tokyo 2020 in 2021, Marta became the first player to score in five consecutive Olympic Games. Her total of 17 goals is the most of any player, man or woman, in World Cups.

Now 38, the 'Queen of Football' will retire from the national team after Paris 2024 where she hopes to play in a sixth Olympic Games.