Marta (footballer)

Marta (footballer)
Name	Marta Vieira da Silva
Caption	Marta in 2017
Fullname	Marta Vieira da Silva
Birth date	19 February 1986
Birth place	Jaçanã, São Paulo
Height	1.62 m
Position	Forward
Currentclub	Orlando Pride
Youthclubs	Centro Olímpico (São Paulo)
Nationalteam	Brazil women's national football team

Marta (footballer) is a Brazilian professional footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest women's footballers of all time. She has played as a forward and attacking midfielder for club sides in Brazil, Sweden, United States and internationally for Brazil women's national football team, winning numerous domestic, continental and individual honours including multiple FIFA World Player of the Year awards. Her career spans appearances at multiple FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments, Olympic Games editions, top-flight leagues such as the Damallsvenskan and National Women's Soccer League, and high-profile clubs like Umeå IK, Santos, and FC Rosengård.

Early life and youth career

Born in Jaçanã, São Paulo in 1986, Marta grew up in a family from the São Paulo state region and spent childhood years in Cravinhos, developing an early passion for association football. Her youth development involved playing street football and for local teams before moving to structured environments at Centro Olímpico (São Paulo), where coaches identified her technical skills, dribbling and goal-scoring instincts. She transitioned from amateur to professional pathways through regional competitions in Brazil, attracting attention from scouts representing clubs in Sweden and other European leagues.

Club career

Marta's senior club career began at Saad Esporte Clube and Santa Cruz before a breakthrough move to Umeå IK in the Damallsvenskan, where she linked with international stars at the club and competed in the UEFA Women's Cup against teams from Germany, Norway and France. After success in Sweden she returned to Brazil to play for Santos, contributing to titles in domestic cups and continental fixtures alongside teammates who featured for Brazil women's national team. Marta later signed for FC Rosengård (formerly LdB FC Malmö), forming attacking partnerships with players from United States and Norway, before moving to the United States to join Los Angeles Sol and later Western New York Flash in the Women's Professional Soccer and National Women's Soccer League, representing franchises based in California and New York. She subsequently joined Orlando Pride, where she became a focal point alongside international recruits, competing in the NWSL Championship and domestic cup competitions while also featuring in international friendlies and preseason tours against clubs from England, Germany and Spain.

International career

Marta made her senior debut for the Brazil women's national football team in her teens and has appeared at multiple editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Olympic Games. She led Brazil to the FIFA Women's World Cup final in 2007, scoring decisive goals against nations including United States and Norway, and won the Olympic silver medal in 2004 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics facing teams such as Germany and Japan. Her international career includes record-breaking goal tallies in competitive fixtures versus rivals like Argentina and appearances alongside celebrated Brazilian teammates such as Formiga and Cristiane, contributing to campaigns in CONMEBOL tournaments and World Cup qualification matches.

Playing style and reception

Marta is known for exceptional dribbling, close control, vision, creativity and finishing, drawing comparisons to iconic male and female playmakers from Brazil and Europe. Analysts, commentators and former professionals from clubs and national teams in Sweden, United States, Germany and Japan have praised her ability to influence matches, citing performances in tournaments like the FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Cup. Coaches at club level including managers from Umeå IK, Santos and Orlando Pride have emphasized her leadership, technical range and set-piece proficiency in matches against opposition from England, France and Norway.

Records, honours and awards

Marta's individual awards include multiple FIFA World Player of the Year titles and nominations in world football awards contested by players from UEFA and CONMEBOL federations. She is among the all-time top scorers for the Brazil women's national football team and holds scoring records in FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments, receiving tournament golden boots and top scorer recognitions. Club honours include domestic championships in Brazil and title challenges in Damallsvenskan and NWSL competitions, as well as appearances and awards in UEFA Women's Cup fixtures. Her awards list places her alongside recipients from Ballon d'Or Féminin shortlists and historic honorees from CONMEBOL confederation recognitions.

Personal life

Marta has lived and worked across continents including Brazil, Sweden and the United States, maintaining ties to family in São Paulo state while engaging in charitable and ambassadorial roles with organizations in Brazil and international institutions. She has given interviews to media outlets in England, United States and Brazil about women's sport, equality and athlete welfare, and has been the subject of documentaries and profiles by broadcasters covering major events like the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Legacy and impact on women's football

Marta's influence extends to inspiring generations of players in Brazil, Africa, Europe and the United States, with national federations, clubs and leagues citing her role in raising visibility for women's football and influencing policies at confederation level such as CONMEBOL and FIFA initiatives. Her on-field achievements and advocacy have been credited with encouraging investment in youth academies, professional leagues like the NWSL and development programs in countries across South America, Europe and North America, and she is frequently referenced by fellow professionals, coaches and sporting directors as a benchmark for excellence in the sport.

Category:Brazilian women's footballers Category:Brazil international women's footballers Category:Players in the National Women's Soccer League