Marta (footballer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marta

Marta with the Orlando Pride in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(1986-02-19) 19 February 1986 (age 39)
Place of birth	Dois Riachos, Alagoas, Brazil
Height	1.62 m
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Orlando Pride
Number	10
Youth career
1999	CSA
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2002	Vasco da Gama	16	(4)
2002–2004	Santa Cruz	38	(16)
2004–2008	Umeå IK	103	(111)
2009	Los Angeles Sol	19	(10)
2009–2010	→ Santos (loan)	14	(26)
2010	Gold Pride	24	(19)
2011	Santos	12	(13)
2011	Western New York Flash	14	(10)
2012–2014	Tyresö	38	(27)
2014–2017	Rosengård	43	(23)
2017–	Orlando Pride	118	(40)
National team‡
2002	Brazil U19
2002–2024	Brazil	204	(119)
Honours Women's football Representing  Brazil Olympic Games Silver 2004 Athens Silver 2008 Beijing Silver 2024 Paris Pan American Games Gold 2003 Santo Domingo Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 November 2024. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 August 2024

Marta Vieira da Silva (born 19 February 1986), known simply as Marta, is a Brazilian professional football player. She plays as a forward for the National Women's Soccer League club Orlando Pride. Many people consider Marta to be the greatest female footballer of all time.

She has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award six times. Five of these awards were won in a row, from 2006 to 2010. Her most recent award was in 2018. Marta holds the record as Brazil's top goalscorer with 119 goals. She also holds the record for the most goals scored in any World Cup, for both women and men, with 17 goals.

Marta was the first footballer, male or female, to score in five different World Cups. This amazing feat was later matched by Christine Sinclair in 2019 and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2022. She was also the first footballer to score in five straight Olympic Games. Marta helped the Brazilian national team win silver medals at the 2004, 2008, and 2024 Summer Olympics. She won the Golden Ball (MVP) at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. In the 2007 Women's World Cup, she won both the Golden Ball (best player) and the Golden Boot (top scorer). She led Brazil to the final of that tournament.

At the club level, Marta won the UEFA Women's Cup with the Swedish club Umeå IK in 2004. She also won seven Swedish league championships during her time playing in Sweden. In 2013, she became one of six Ambassadors for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. She also carried the Olympic Flag at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The Secretary-General of the United Nations chose her as an advocate for Sustainable Development Goals. In 2017, Marta became a Swedish citizen, holding citizenship in both Brazil and Sweden.

Playing for Clubs

Early Career and First Steps

Marta was discovered by Brazilian coach Helena Pacheco when she was 14 years old. She started her professional career at Vasco da Gama in 2000. After two years, she moved to Santa Cruz, a smaller club. She played there for two more seasons before joining Umeå IK in Sweden.

Success with Umeå IK

Marta joined Umeå IK before the 2004 season. Umeå reached the final of the UEFA Women's Cup that year. They won 8–0 against Frankfurt, with Marta scoring three goals. In 2005, Umeå won the league without losing a game, and Marta scored 21 goals. She was the league's top scorer.

In 2006, Umeå won the league again, and Marta was the top scorer with 21 goals. They reached the UEFA Women's Cup semi-finals. The 2007 season was also successful, with Umeå winning both the league and the Swedish Cup. Marta scored a hat-trick in the cup final. In 2008, Umeå and Marta won another Swedish championship. After this, Marta announced she would move to the American team Los Angeles Sol.

Playing in the USA: Los Angeles Sol

Marta in a 2009 WPS All-Stars match against Umeå IK.

In January 2009, Marta joined the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) team Los Angeles Sol. She signed a three-year contract. Marta said she wanted to play where the best players were. She believed the American League was becoming one of the best.

Marta was the league's top scorer in 2009 with ten goals. The Sol won the regular season but lost in the WPS Championship Final.

Loan to Santos

During the off-season from Los Angeles Sol, Marta played for Santos in Brazil. She helped Santos win both the Copa Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil. She scored goals in both finals.

More Success with FC Gold Pride

Marta playing for FC Gold Pride at the 2010 WPS Championship

In 2010, Marta joined FC Gold Pride. She played in all 24 games and scored 19 goals. She won the WPS MVP and WPS Golden Boot for the second year in a row.

Marta led Gold Pride to win the regular-season championship. She also had two assists and a goal in the WPS Championship final. She became a free agent when Gold Pride stopped playing in November 2010.

Return to Santos and Western New York Flash

Marta returned to Santos for a short contract in December 2010. In January 2011, she joined her third WPS team, the Western New York Flash. Her goals and assists helped the team start the 2011 season strongly.

Marta helped Western New York Flash win the Regular Season Championship. She scored her tenth goal of the season in a victory over the Atlanta Beat. This earned her the PUMA Golden Boot award for the third time in a row.

Back to Sweden: Tyresö FF

Marta in 2013

When the WPS league stopped playing in 2012, Marta went back to Sweden. She signed a two-year contract with Tyresö FF in February 2012. Tyresö won the Damallsvenskan title for the first time in 2012. Marta earned her fifth league winner's medal.

Marta scored twice in Tyresö's 4–3 loss to Wolfsburg in the 2014 UEFA Women's Champions League Final. Tyresö faced financial problems in 2014 and had to leave the league. This made all their players free agents.

Playing for FC Rosengård

In July 2014, Marta signed a six-month contract with FC Rosengård in Sweden. While with Rosengård, Marta won the Damallsvenskan league title in 2014 and 2015. She also won the Svenska Cupen in 2016 and the Svenska Supercupen in 2015 and 2016.

Joining Orlando Pride

After Rosengård lost in the UEFA Women's Champions League, Marta joined Orlando Pride in the USA. She signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year. In her first season with Orlando, she was second in the league for both goals and assists. Her teammates voted her as the MVP. The Pride finished third and made their first playoff appearance.

Before the 2022 season, Marta became the team captain. She suffered a serious knee injury in March 2022 and had surgery. On 2 October 2023, Marta became the first player to play 100 games for the Pride.

In the 2024 season, Marta scored an equalizer in the 88th minute of a game against Angel City. She also scored Orlando Pride's 200th goal in a game against Utah Royals. Marta won her first NWSL titles with Orlando Pride in 2024. They won the NWSL Shield (regular season) and the NWSL Championship by beating Washington Spirit 1–0. In January 2025, Marta signed a new two-year contract with Orlando.

International Career for Brazil

Marta has had a fantastic career playing for the Brazilian national team.

Pan American Games and World Cup Success

On 26 July 2007, Marta and the Brazilian women's team won the 2007 Pan American Games. They beat the US U-20 team in front of 68,000 fans. Brazilian fans compared her to the legendary male player Pelé, calling her "Pelé with skirts." Pelé himself agreed with the comparison. Marta was very happy when he called to congratulate her.

After this win, Marta's footprints were placed in cement at the stadium. She was the first woman to receive this honor.

Marta played in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup with Brazil. They won all their group games, with Marta scoring four goals. In the quarter-final, Brazil won 3–2 against Australia, and Marta scored a penalty. In the semi-final, Marta scored twice as Brazil won 4–0 against the United States. Her second goal was spectacular. In the final, Brazil lost 2–0 to Germany. Marta had a penalty kick saved in the second half. She finished the 2007 Women's World Cup as the winner of both the Golden Ball (best player) and the Golden Boot (top scorer) with seven goals.

Marta wearing the Brazil number 10 during a match in the 2007 Pan American Games

Olympic Medals and World Cup Records

Marta also played in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Brazil won a silver medal. She lost 1–0 in the final against the United States. This was her third silver medal in major international tournaments.

Marta was part of the Brazil team at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. The United States eliminated Brazil in the quarter-finals. Marta scored four goals and had two assists in the tournament. This made her the joint top scorer in women's World Cup history with 14 goals. She also won the Silver Boot as the tournament's second-leading goal scorer.

During her fourth World Cup in 2015, Marta became the all-time top scorer in the women's tournament with 15 goals. Brazil lost to Australia in the round-of-16.

In the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, she made history again. She became the first player, male or female, to score in five FIFA World Cup tournaments. She scored a penalty against Australia. In the next match, she scored another penalty against Italy. This made her the outright leading goalscorer in World Cup history, with 17 goals. After Brazil was knocked out, Marta gave an emotional interview. She asked Brazilian girls to continue the legacy of older players like herself. She encouraged them to "value [women's football] more." This interview became very popular.

On 21 July 2021, Marta scored twice in a 5–0 win against China. This made her the first player to score in five straight Olympics.

On 26 April 2024, Marta announced she would retire from international football after the 2024 Summer Olympics. She was sent off in a group game against Spain and suspended for two matches. She returned as a substitute in the final against the United States. Brazil lost 1–0, giving Marta her third Olympic silver medal.

How Marta Plays Football

Marta playing in the Match Against Poverty in March 2014

Marta is known for her amazing skills on the ball. She is small, fast, and strong. Many people think she is the greatest female footballer ever. She is famous for her quick feet and incredible dribbling. This has led to comparisons with famous male players like Ronaldinho, Romário, and Pelé. Pelé even called her Pelé with skirts.

Marta is also known for her vision and technical skills. She is very fast when she dribbles. She can play in many attacking positions. She started as an attacking midfielder, like a classic number 10. Later, she played more forward, as a supporting forward or a main striker. She can also play on the wing, cutting inside to shoot with her strong left foot.

Marta is a great goalscorer. She is known for her powerful shots and is accurate from penalties and free-kicks. Besides her football abilities, Marta is also a strong leader on the field.

Personal Life

Marta has three siblings: José, Valdir, and Angela. Her parents are Aldário and Tereza. Her father left the family when Marta was a baby. In 2010, Marta became a United Nations Development Programme goodwill ambassador. In 2018, she became a UN Women goodwill ambassador.

Marta speaks several languages, including Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and English. She is a Catholic and says that God is very important to her. In 2016, she was named one of BBC's 100 Women.

In March 2017, Marta received Swedish citizenship. She kept her Brazilian citizenship. In February 2021, she received a U.S. green card. This gives her permanent residency and allows her to be counted as a domestic player in the NWSL.

In January 2021, Marta announced she was engaged to her Orlando Pride teammate Toni Pressley. Their engagement was later called off. Since 2022, Marta has been in a relationship with her Orlando Pride teammate Carrie Lawrence. In August 2024, they announced their engagement.

Career Statistics

International Goals

Awards and Achievements

Marta during the 2014 Match Against Poverty in Bern, Switzerland

Umeå IK

• Damallsvenskan: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Svenska Cupen: 2007
• UEFA Women's Cup: 2003–04; runner-up: 2006–07, 2007–08

Santos

• Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Femenino: 2009
• Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino: 2009

FC Gold Pride

• WPS Championship: 2010

Western New York Flash

• WPS Championship: 2011

Tyresö FF

• Damallsvenskan: 2012
• UEFA Women's Champions League runner-up: 2013–14

FC Rosengård

• Damallsvenskan: 2014, 2015

Orlando Pride

• NWSL Championship: 2024
• NWSL Shield: 2024

Brazil National Team

• Pan American Games: 2003, 2007
• Sudamericano Femenino: 2003, 2010, 2018
• FIFA Women's World Cup runner-up: 2007
• Summer Olympics Silver Medal: 2004, 2008 2024

Individual Awards

• FIFA World Player of the Year/The Best FIFA Women's Player – Winner (6): 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2018
• The Best FIFA Women's Player – runner-up: 2016
• FIFPro World XI: 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024
• Damallsvenskan Top Scorer: 2004, 2005, 2008
• FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2004
• FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Boot: 2007
• FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2007
• FIFA Best Special Award: 2023
• WPS Golden Boot: 2009, 2010, 2011
• Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award: 2009, 2010
• Sudamericano Femenino Golden Boot: 2010
• Sports Illustrated Top 20 Female Athletes of the Decade (2000–2009) (#7)
• IFFHS World's Best Woman Playmaker: 2012
• IFFHS Women's World Team: 2018
• IFFHS World's Best Woman Player of the Decade 2011–2020
• IFFHS CONMEBOL Best Woman Player of the Decade 2011–2020
• IFFHS World's Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
• IFFHS CONMEBOL Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
• NWSL Best XI First Team: 2024

Records

• FIFA Women's World Cup all-time record goalscorer (17 goals)

See also

In Spanish: Marta Vieira da Silva para niños

• List of Olympic medalists in football
• List of women's footballers with 100 or more international caps
• List of top international women's football goal scorers by country