Brazil were eliminated from the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after the preliminary round, a debacle for women’s legend Marta (37) in particular. However, the attacking player also gave hope after her last appearance for the South Americans.
Six times. That’s how many times the now 37-year-old Marta has become a world footballer. For the Brazilian icon, however, the number six is not only associated with positive moments.
After six World Cups with Brazil, there is still no success for Marta, who narrowly failed in the 2007 final against Germany (0:2). In her last attempt in 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, on the other hand, the number ten ended much earlier: After the preliminary round and a disappointing 0-0 draw against Jamaica.
For the first time since 1995, the tournament ended after the preliminary round
After the match, Marta was suitably sad, but in a different way to the day before at a press conference where she had been crying with joy and pride. Her Brazilian team-mates and she herself – Marta was in the starting eleven for the first time in the tournament – had found no way through against the Central American bulwark, which is why Marta’s last World Cup ended in a debacle.
Not surprisingly, Marta found it “difficult to speak at such a moment” on Brazilian television. She said she had not imagined her last World Cup “like this even in my worst nightmares”. It was the first time since 1995 that Brazil had been knocked out so early in a World Cup, behind Jamaica and France in Group F.
Marta of Brazil reacts after the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 group F soccer match between Jamaica and Brazil in Melbourne, Australia, 02 August 2023. Brazil did not qualify for the knockout stages. EPA / AAP / Joel CarrettMarta FIFAWWC epaimages pic. twitter.com/DlCyFE4By6
– EPA Images (@EPA_Images) August 2, 2023
Praise to female colleagues: “Have a lot of talent “
But the low point of her national team career could also be the dawn of a new glorious era, Marta said. “The Brazilian people have asked for a renewal and there is a renewal”: in the national team she was “the only old woman”, most of the other players were still young. “They have a lot of talent and still a long way to go.”
Marta’s time with Brazil, on the other hand, has come to an end. She, too, was unable to come up with any sparkling ideas against the bravely defending Jamaicans, and the World Cup record scorer (17 goals, one more than Miroslav Klose in the men’s team) had nothing more to offer than a good start.
Marta leaves an enormous legacy
But even without a World Cup crown, Marta has left a huge legacy in 157 caps, including 108 goals – more than male stars Pelé or Neymar.
