Striker Marta is part of Brazil’s squad for next month’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (July 20-August 20). It will be her sixth participation in a global final round.
Marta is regarded in Brazil as the best football star of all time. Her reputation is also great worldwide. She was named World Football Player of the Year six times in the past.
The 37-year-old number ten of the Seleçao is currently under contract with the American Orlando Pride. She only recently returned there after a serious injury to the right knee, which kept her off the field for almost a year.
,,It will definitely be my last World Cup”, said Marta, who is the only record holder for the number of goals in a World Cup (17). The male record holder, the German Miroslav Klose, has sixteen goals.
“It is logical that I am no longer the same Marta as I was twenty years ago, but physically I am good and mentally even better”, the star player explained. Marta must try to guide a young Brazilian team to success. After the previous World Cup, in 2019 in France, a rejuvenation was chosen. No less than eleven of the 23 Brazilian World Cup visitors celebrate their World Cup debut at this edition.
Brazil opens in Group F against France, Jamaica and Panama.
World Cup schedule
At the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year, the Orange Lionesses will meet defending champion United States in the group stage, which the Netherlands will play in New Zealand. View here the complete schedule of the Women’s World Cup, which will take place from 20 July to 20 August.
Columns Vivianne Miedema
Every month Vivianne Miedema makes a column for this site about what moves her in (inter)national women’s football. Read all her columns here. The top scorer of the Orange Lionesses will not be there this summer at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand due to a serious knee injury.
Watch all our videos about the Orange Lionesses here
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