- Marta teared up while speaking on her legacy
- Six times FIFA World Player of the Year awardee
- Brazil face Jamaica on Wednesday
WHAT HAPPENED? The 37-year-old legendary Brazilian footballer has had a 20-year-long career during which she won the FIFA World Player of the Year award six times. Earlier in June this year, the veteran player confirmed that the 2023 Women's World Cup will be her swansong.
While reflecting on her illustrious career as a professional footballer Marta became emotional and teared up as she suggested that persistence at every juncture helped her to continue performing at the highest level for so many years.
WHAT THEY SAID: Speaking to reporters via a translator, Marta said, "When I started playing, I didn’t have an idol, a female idol and now people stop me and the team and tell us, 'My daughter wants to be just like you''.
"This wouldn’t have happened if we had stopped at the first obstacles that we faced,” Marta said, crediting a continuous persistence over the years for building the game to this point."
THE BIGGER PICTURE: The Brazilians started the Women's World Cup on a high as they thrashed Panama 4-0 but then suffered a defeat at the hands of France in their second game.
WHAT NEXT? Pia Sundhage's side take on Jamaica in a must-win clash in their final group game on August 2 in Sydney.