Emotional goodbye: Marta bids farewell to the World Cup after Brazil's departure

Legendary Brazilian footballer Marta's World Cup career may have come to a shocking end Wednesday (2 August 2023) after her squad was eliminated following a 0-0 draw with Jamaica.

"It's hard to talk at a time like this," Marta said following the match, according to the BBC. "Not even in my worst nightmares was it the World Cup I dreamed of. But it is only the beginning, the Brazilian people ask for renewal, and there is renewal. The only old one is me, most of them [my team-mates] are young girls with enormous talent, it's just the beginning for them.

"Marta ends here, there is no more World Cup for Marta," she concluded.

The 37-year-old has played in six World Cups. Her best result came in 2007 where Brazil finished as runners-up to Germany. She has twice won medals at the Olympic Games, taking silvers at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

"Twenty years ago, nobody knew who Marta was at my first World Cup," said Marta. "Twenty years later, we have become a reference for many women all over the world, not only in football."