Marta — the Brazilian footballing legend and eight-year Orlando Pride veteran — has played in big games before. An icon of the sport for decades, she's taken the field in front of massive crowds, appeared in multiple World Cups, stood on Olympic podiums, and won numerous individual and team awards for both club and country.
But Saturday's NWSL Championship game against the Washington Spirit feels different, she told reporters ahead of the event. And at 38, it's one of the most significant moments in her career.
"Number one," she replied immediately when asked where winning an NWSL title would rank in her mind should Orlando pull off the difficult task of winning both the Shield and the Championship in the same year.
"It's like the answer that I'm trying to have," she said, shooting a finger into the air to emphasize her point. "Many, many, many years here — [that's] why I'm still here."
Marta has been on superteams before, dominating Sweden's top league for years with Tyreso and FC Rosengard after winning WPS Championships in 2010 and 2011 with FC Gold Pride and the Western New York Flash. She's also seen incredible success at the international level with Brazil, putting the USWNT and the entire world on notice during the 2007 World Cup before a second-place finish.
Having announced her retirement from international play last spring, the three-time Olympic silver medalist's days of putting on the Brazil jersey for a major tournament are likely over. But picking up a trophy with Orlando would serve as the ultimate reward after a long journey with a club that for many years did not look even close to competing at a championship level.
"To look back and then see how many [things] we need to work for, to build this team, be strong," she continued. "And then how many things we go through [to] have a season without losing any games at home, break their many records. It's special."
Starting from the bottom
Marta joined the NWSL in 2017, signing with the Pride and going on to lead Orlando to its last NWSL Playoffs appearance that same year. In the years that followed, the Pride became synonymous with competitive futility, evolving into a place of transition for superstars like Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris, and Ali Krieger who left after failing to lift the team out of the bottom of the league standings.
And yet Marta remained. And with the permanent addition of head coach Seb Hines in 2022 alongside astute signings by general manager Haley Carter, the Pride's perception of themselves and their ability to climb the table began to shift.
In 2023, Orlando had one singular goal: Make the playoffs. It was a milestone they didn't achieve after a chaotic regular-season decision day saw the Pride fall just short of the postseason contention.
Then in 2024, Hines took a new approach. And Orlando has seen the dividends of keeping things simple pay off in droves.
"We started this season with a really different mentality," said Marta. "We need to have goals, not only one, but step by step, and we're looking for something big. Of course, our first goal was being in the playoffs. Then after that, win the Shield, and then being in this Final, and then win the Championship."
The Pride rattled off 23 consecutive games to start the 2024 regular season without a loss, culminating in their first-ever NWSL Shield earned in a 2-0 win over eventual Championship opponent Washington.
"It's unbelievable," Marta said after that pivotal match. "Something that I, wow, I dreamed about, but to be honest, never believed that it was going to happen the way that it did."
A cherished presence on the field and off
Orlando has one more game left in 2024, and Marta is keenly aware that the team has to maintain their step-by-step mentality and keep the emotions at bay for just 90 more minutes. She also hasn't shied away from this possibly being her last opportunity to win the league's greatest honor.
Playing alongside powerhouse attackers like Zambian striker Barbra Banda and elite midfielders like fellow Brazil national Adriana has rejuvenated Marta's style, with the seasoned veteran looking like her vintage self week in and week out this season. But the legend is much closer to the end of her career than the beginning, and she carries the hard-earned perspective of a player that has lived many lives in pursuit of her dreams.
"It's something that I appreciate and I cherish," Banda — an MVP candidate in her own right — said on Thursday. "Because it's someone I've been looking up to far away, but now she's closer to me. I'm able to get encouragement from her, I'm able to get the ideas that I want. So, yeah, it is an achievement."
The Pride's easy-going locker room culture has translated into joy on the pitch — both a product of captain Marta, who held court with the media on Thursday in Kansas City. Surrounded by a near-constant scrum of reporters, the football icon regaled reporters with stories about everything from post-game dust-ups to her bold lipstick choices.
When asked what advice she'd give teammates facing the biggest game of their careers, Marta focused on the bigger picture. "Enjoy the opportunity, you know, enjoy the moment," she said. "Because we don't know what is gonna happen next step, next year. We don't know if every single player who we have in the roster here will be in the next year."
"The moment don't come back," she added. "So you need to just enjoy, and then do your best to go as far we can."
For Marta, the moment has arrived
This evening's moment is expected to culminate in an incredible clashing of styles, as a young counter-attacking Washington Spirit side looks to upset the dominant, methodical Pride, therein denying one of the game's all-time greats her full-circle moment. Marta's teammates have been open about their desire to finish strong on her behalf, a sentiment she waves off in favor of fighting for her whole team. And it will take every single one of her teammates to unlock the happy ending so many didn't expect they'd reach so soon.
After years of showing up for the Pride, the team has answered Marta's efforts back in full. And whether or not they return to Orlando with a trophy in hand, the NWSL Championship will serve as a punctuation to an iconic career. The memory of Marta dancing through defenders before slotting the ball in the back of the net in this year's semifinal match has no expiration date — an image she intends to hold onto far beyond this weekend.
"When I celebrate a goal with Brazil, and celebrate the last goal that I did with the Pride, it was the same," Marta said. "I saw the picture and say, 'Yeah, nothing changed.' I have passion for this game, and that's why I still play."
The USWNT is guaranteed a shot at an Olympic medal in Paris after defeating Japan 1-0 in extra time in Saturday's epic quarterfinal match. Trinity Rodman notched the contest's lone goal in the 107th minute, with the US ultimately holding on to avoid moving to penalty kicks.
The contest marked the second-straight matchup where the US found themselves face-to-face with a low block, as Japan packed their defense in a 5-4-1 formation.
While the US dominated possession, they didn't always appear dangerous on the attack, with Japan more than happy to let their opponent pass along the backline. But Japan couldn't manage to be clinical on the counter — and Rodman's individual strike saved the day to break the deadlock.
Extra time prevades Olympic soccer quarterfinals
The USWNT and Japan were not alone in their futile regulation-time efforts, as three of the four Saturday quarterfinals required extra time to decide.
Reigning World Cup champions Spain rallied against Colombia with a two-goal comeback to enter extra time 2-2, eventually advancing on penalty kicks.
Later that afternoon, Canada and Germany battled to a scoreless stalemate after 120 minutes, allowing German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to play penalty kick hero. Berger saved two kicks and converted one herself to send the reigning Olympic champions packing.
With a 1-0 win over France, Brazil was the only team to register a victory inside of regulation play, albeit tacking on over 18 minutes of second-half stoppage time. Due to red card suspension, Brazilian legend Marta will miss the team's semifinal, but will likely cap her international career in the subsequent bronze or gold medal match.
Olympic semis to feature group stage rematches
The semifinals will feature two group stage rematches, as the US takes on Germany and Spain squares off against Brazil.
Elsewhere, the USWNT beat Group B foe Germany 4-1, while Spain took down Brazil 2-0 in Group C. Group A saw all three of its teams eliminated in Saturday's quarterfinal round.
How to watch the USWNT vs. Germany at the Olympics
The USWNT will kick off against Germany on Tuesday at 12 PM ET, with live coverage across NBC networks.
Brazilian soccer legend Marta has confirmed that the 2023 Women’s World Cup will be her last.
On Monday, the 37-year-old told local local media that it feels “surreal” to be preparing for a sixth Women’s World Cup.
“Yes, it will be my last World Cup,” Marta said in Brasilia on Monday. “We have to understand that a time comes for us to prioritize other things.
“I just have to be thankful to have lived all those years in the national team. To have the opportunity to go to another World Cup, a sixth one, for me is something surreal.”
Brazil head coach Pia Sundhage said it’s likely Marta will start the World Cup on the bench as she continues to recover from a knee injury. The six-time FIFA World Player of the Year had surgery last year after tearing her ACL. She returned to the national team in February after 11 months.
Marta did not play in the team’s friendlies in April, but she appeared as a substitute in Brazil’s 4-0 win over Chile on Sunday. Brazil will face Panama, France and Jamaica in the group stage at the World Cup.
Marta, a forward with the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 117 career international goals. Brazil’s women’s national team has yet to win a World Cup trophy, with its best result being a runner-up finish in 2007.
Formiga played in her final international match with the Brazilian national team on Thursday, but only saw the field for a mere 15 minutes.
When asked why she didn’t start the legendary midfielder, national team coach Pia provided the following statement:
“The reason Formiga played 15 minutes is because she is not the future of the national team,” she said. “And we have to build that future. She played and almost scored, it was an incredible 15 minutes.”
The 43-year-old has competed in seven World Cups and seven Olympics, both of which are world records. At the Tokyo Olympics in July, she became the first player to compete in seven Olympic Games, having played in every Olympics since women’s soccer’s debut in 1996.
For her final game, Formiga’s mother, Dona Celeste, flew to see her make her final appearance. Celeste, who is afraid of flying, had reportedly never seen her daughter play in person before.
⚠️ This is emotional!
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) November 25, 2021
👩👧 A mother, who is terrified of flying, has never seen her daughter play live. Today Dona Celeste faced her fears and flew to Manaus to see Formiga make the final appearance of her extraordinary Brazil career 💛
♾ #FormigaEternapic.twitter.com/fNCcb3cWp5
Legendary Brazilian midfielder Formiga is set to play her final match with the national team this month, the Brazilian national team announced Tuesday.
“The legendary Formiga will say goodbye to the women’s national team,” the confederation said on social media. “It is a historic moment for a life dedicated to the yellow shirt and to soccer. We love you.”
A legend of the game and a truly remarkable career. Congratulations, Formiga! https://t.co/cFXscT0Am4 pic.twitter.com/e9KFokYk8G
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) November 10, 2021
The 43-year-old has competed in seven World Cups and seven Olympics, both of which are world records. Having played in every Olympics since women’s soccer’s debut in 1996, she became the first women’s player to compete in seven Olympic Games during the Tokyo Olympics in July.
The most-capped player in the history of the Brazilian national team, Formiga has played in 233 matches. Having made her debut at 17 years old at the 1995 World Cup, her final game will come in a friendly against India on Nov. 25.
To put it in perspective: Playing football was still illegal for women in Brazil when Formiga was born in 1978.
Throughout her extensive career, the midfielder has won two Olympic silver medals (2004, 2008) and was part of the Brazil team that lost to Germany in the 2007 World Cup final.