Marta
Who was Marta?
Brazilian footballer widely considered the greatest female player of all time, six-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner and top scorer in World Cup history.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Marta (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Marta Vieira da Silva, simply known as Marta, was born on February 19, 1986, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is a Brazilian-Swedish professional footballer who plays as a forward for the National Women's Soccer League club Orlando Pride and captains the Brazil women's national team. Considered by many as the greatest female footballer of all time, Marta is known for her incredible goal-scoring ability and long-standing success in international competitions.
Throughout her career, Marta has won many individual awards that show her dominance in women's football. She was named FIFA World Player of the Year six times, with five consecutive wins from 2006 to 2010, and her latest win in 2018. She has scored 122 goals for Brazil, making her the country's top scorer. She also holds the record for the most goals in World Cup history, for both women and men, with 17 goals as of 2025. She is the first footballer to score in five different World Cups.
At the club level, Marta has played across different leagues and countries. In Sweden, she won the UEFA Women's Cup with Umeå IK in 2004 and seven Swedish league titles with various teams. She reached the UEFA Women's Champions League final with Tyresö FF in 2014. In the U.S., she won two Women's Professional Soccer championships in 2010 and 2011 and helped Orlando Pride win its first National Women's Soccer League championship in 2024.
Marta's Olympic career covers several decades, where she became the first footballer to score in five consecutive Olympic Games. She was part of Brazil's silver medal teams in the 2004, 2008, and 2024 Summer Olympics. Her individual honors include the Golden Ball at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship and both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the 2007 Women's World Cup, where Brazil reached the final. Outside her playing career, she was recognized by BBC 100 Women in 2016 and served as an ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Before Fame
Growing up in Rio de Janeiro during the 1990s and early 2000s, Marta got into football when women's soccer in Brazil was still finding its footing. Opportunities for female players were on the rise, with more international competitions becoming recognized and professional leagues starting in different countries.
Marta's rise began when she showed incredible talent as a young player, eventually taking her to international competitions. One of her early achievements was winning the Golden Ball at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship, marking her as one of the most promising young talents in women's soccer. This success paved the way for her move to European club football with Umeå IK.
Key Achievements
- Six-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner (2006-2010, 2018)
- All-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 17 goals
- Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 122 international goals
- Three-time Olympic silver medalist (2004, 2008, 2024)
- First footballer of any gender to score at five different World Cups
Did You Know?
- 01.She carried the Olympic flag into the Maracanã Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
- 02.She appeared in the Sveriges Television documentary series 'The Other Sport' in 2013
- 03.She holds dual Brazilian-Swedish nationality
- 04.She was named an ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in her home country of Brazil
- 05.She scored at five consecutive Olympic Games, a feat unmatched by any footballer regardless of gender
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| BBC 100 Women | 2016 | — |
| The Best FIFA Women's Player | 2018 | — |