Paris 2024 football: Marta's Olympic dream kept alive as Brazil stun Spain to reach gold medal match
Marta's dream of an Olympic gold is not over yet.
When she was given her marching orders against Spain in the group stages, receiving a straight red card for a high-foot challenge, many thought this was where her incredible legacy ended.
Brazil came into the knockout rounds at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 as the dark horses, having qualified as one of the best-ranked third-place teams.
But with an emphatic win over hosts France in the quarter-finals, they found themselves in a semi-final showpiece against reigning world champions and Olympic debutants Spain.
The South Americans went 2-0 up in the first half after a dominant showing, with the opener a gift from a Spanish mishap at the back, before Gabi Portilho doubled their advantage.
Twenty minutes from the end, Adriana capped a simply stunning display from Seleção, sending them through to the gold medal match with a blistering 4-2 victory.
Spain looked to inspire a comeback late on by adding their name to the scoresheet twice, but a fourth from Kerolin affirmed her side's spot in the next round.
Their win means that Marta, who is a two-time silver medallist with her national team, will get one last chance to fight for gold in what will be her farewell to the Games.
It is her sixth time representing Brazil at the Olympics, in what is her final major international tournament as she intends to retire at the end of the year.
What a story that has unfolded in Paris, and what a fitting farewell to the global stage for Marta.
Four-time champions, the USWNT, stand in their way on Saturday, 10 August.