"I have given everything I could to the national team. I am at peace with my decision to retire because I see that there are very talented young players well-positioned to continue representing Brazil with excellence," Marta explained. From 26 July, she will compete in Paris in what will be her sixth Olympic Games before passing the captain's armband to the next wave of talent.

Winning a championship would be the perfect conclusion to a career that has spanned over 20 years, and her teammates recognise the significance of this final chapter. "Every time we play alongside Marta, we feel a deep sense of responsibility. She is an extraordinary player, and now it is up to us to take the baton and perform for her," said defender Rafaelle. "She was my idol while I was growing up, so having the opportunity to play alongside her now is truly a dream come true."

Marta Vieira, simply known as Marta, has scored a total of 118 goals in 183 international appearances for the national team. In addition to her six Olympic appearances, she has also competed in six Women’s World Cups, in which she holds the record for the most goals scored, and has managed to score 13 goals in her Olympic appearances, just one less than fellow Brazilian Cristiane.

Her career in the sport began in Dois Riachos, a small town in the east of Brazil, where she played street football with the local boys. At 17, she made her World Cup debut during the 2003 tournament in the United States. Over time, Marta's role within the team progressed spectacularly, and today she has taken on more of a mentoring role, guiding the new generation of players. 

"I have a vast experience in decisive competitions and major tournaments, so my goal is to share my knowledge with the young players, helping them to feel confident and prepared. We have great expectations for them," she said.

Marta remains a crucial asset on the field, as demonstrated by her performance this season with Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League. She has scored five goals in 12 matches, helping her team to stay unbeaten and lead the league. 

"Tactically, I am still able to read the different phases of the game well, and on the pitch I focus more on that rather than standing out physically, thus using my experience to gain a competitive advantage."

Despite her impressive list of achievements, which includes a decade of league titles across different countries, four Super Cups, and two Swedish Cups, one Brazilian Cup, three Copa America titles, and one Copa Libertadores, two special rewards still elude her: the World Cup and Olympic gold. 

"Given that these will be her final Games, there is an added responsibility on her and on us to finish this tournament with the title that has so far eluded us," said her teammate Adriana. "This adds extra motivation to support her in achieving that goal and securing the victory."

Although Brazil will host the Women’s World Cup in 2027, Marta does not plan to extend her career for another three years. However, she has offered to assist the federation in preparation for that competition. 

Reflecting on her most memorable moments with the national team, Marta recalls the 2004 Olympics, her debut, where Brazil reached the final but lost 2-1 to the United States, and the 2007 World Cup, when the team defeated the Americans 4-1 in the semi-finals. Marta scored twice in that match and won the Golden Boot with seven goals, despite Brazil losing the final to Germany.

“It’s the passion,” she said about her love for the game. “The passion that we show when we play, the passion that we see from when people celebrate a goal. You make all the people happy and you make people dream, and it’s not only about soccer, it’s about what it’s like to believe. Believe in yourself. Believe in your potential. So soccer gives you a lot of things like that. And for me, it’s the best part.”