Marta, the Brazilian forward, has confirmed that the upcoming Women’s World Cup will be her last. The 37-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of women’s football, made the announcement on Monday.
Marta has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award six times and is preparing for her sixth Women’s World Cup. The tournament will take place in Australia and New Zealand and will mark the end of her illustrious World Cup career.
“Yes, it will be my last World Cup,” Marta told journalists in Brasilia on Monday. “We have to understand that a time comes for us to prioritise other things.”
Marta made her World Cup debut in 2003 and has since become Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 117 goals. Despite her individual success and three Copa America titles, the World Cup trophy has eluded her in her five previous attempts. Brazil’s best result at the global soccer showpiece was runner-up to Germany in 2007.
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“I just have to be thankful to have lived all those years in the national team. To have the opportunity to go to another World Cup, a sixth one, for me is something surreal,” Marta added.
Brazil’s coach, Pia Sundhage, has indicated that Marta may not be in the starting lineup for Brazil right away as she continues to recover from a knee injury. Marta underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament last year, leading to an 11-month absence from the national team. She returned to the national team in February and played for a few minutes on Sunday, when Brazil beat Chile 4-0 in its last friendly before the trip.
Brazil will kick off its World Cup campaign against Panama on July 24 before taking on France and Jamaica.
