Marta Aims for Olympic Gold with Brazil
- Marta returns to the Olympics for her final tournament with the Brazilian national team, where she first competed 20 years ago at the age of 18.
- The match is a highly anticipated face-off against the United States, a strong competitor.
- Marta, a six-time world player of the year, hopes to lead Brazil to gold one last time.
PARIS (AP) — Brazilian football icon Marta is set to conclude her illustrious international career in a familiar setting, as Brazil prepares to face the United States in the Olympic final. This matchup echoes their previous encounters, notably the gold medal matches in Athens and Beijing, where Brazil fell short against the U.S. team. At 38, Marta has announced her intention to step back after six Olympics and six Women’s World Cups, marking a significant transition for the Brazilian squad. Despite her remarkable achievements, Marta has never clinched a major international title, a fact that adds poignancy to her farewell. Her legacy as one of the greatest female footballers is well recognized, particularly among the younger generation of players, including U.S. forward Sophia Smith. Smith has openly expressed her admiration for Marta, recalling how she idolized her while growing up and how special it is to compete against her in such a high-stakes match. Marta's journey began at the 2003 World Cup in the U.S., where she made her debut at just 17 years old. Her career has been marked by both triumphs and challenges, including a red card in her first World Cup. Recently, Brazil achieved a stunning upset against the reigning Women’s World Cup champions, defeating them 4-2 in Marseille, further fueling their determination to honor Marta with a memorable sendoff in the final. The Brazilian team is committed to giving their star player the farewell she deserves.