Brazilian striker Marta, 37-year-old Seleçao legend, has been selected in the team that will play the Women’s World Cup (July 20-August 20), for the sixth and probably last World Cup of her career.
Considered by Brazilians to be the best player of all time, the number 10 currently under contract with the American team Orlando Pride has returned from a serious right knee injury, which kept her out of action for almost a month. year.
“It will certainly be my last World Cup”, declared the one who can therefore still improve her own record of goals in the final phase, currently at 17 achievements (one more than the male record holder Miroslav Klose).
“It is logical that I am no longer the Marta of 20 years ago, but physically I am very well and mentally even better,” she said when her selection was announced.
For Brazil coach Pia Sundhage of Sweden, Marta’s mere presence in the squad is a huge plus: “Marta is the queen, the icon,” she said. (…) She is generous and she has a lot of energy. Will she be a starter? I do not know yet. But I am certain that she will best fulfill the role that I will give her.
Marta is part of a mostly young selection, very largely renewed since the 2019 World Cup in France, where Brazil was eliminated in the round of 16 by the host country. Eleven of the 23 selected will make their World Cup debut. Brazil will play in Group F with France, Jamaica and Panama.
