Marta

Feb 19, 1986

#9 - Forward

Marta Vieira da Silva, known as Marta, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League and formerly, the Brazil national team.

Did You Know?

Her nickname in Brazil is “A Rainha,” which means “The Queen.”

She became vegan in 2018.

She always wears lipstick during games. After wearing bright red color during a World Cup game, she said: "I tried it and I think it was good. The colour is of blood, because we had to leave blood on the pitch. Now I'm going to use it in every game."

As of 2025, FIFA will introduce a new award to honour her legendary achievements - the best goal scored in women’s football will receive the ‘Marta Award’.

She is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and English.

In 2016, she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women.

She holds the record for being Brazil's top goalscorer with 119 goals.

Marta is the only woman on the Maracanã sidewalk of fame in Rio de Janeiro.

At 21, Marta's performance in the Pan American Games, where she led Brazil to a victory over the U.S. U20s in front of 68,000 spectators, earned her the nickname "Pele in skirts," and she was personally congratulated by the late Pele himself.

She holds the record for the most goals scored in FIFA World Cup tournaments by any player, male or female, with 17 goals.

She has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.

In August 2024, she got engaged to Carrie Lawrence, who also plays for Orlando Pride.

She is Catholic.

She was previously engaged to another Orlando player, Toni Pressley.

Her inspirational message for younger generations, “Cry at the beginning so you can smile at the end,” became famous.

She wants to end her football career as a mother. "I’ve got a dream and a desire to have a child and to grab a chair and be sat pitch-side watching them play, train and take them to training. That’s a dream of mine – I hope it can come true.”

She is an advocate for gender equality and has spoken out about the need for more investment in women’s football.

She is UN-Women Goodwill Ambassador for women and girls in sport and UN Secretary-General SDG Advocate.

She has two brothers and one sister. They were raised by a single mother.

She began playing football barefoot on the streets as the only girl in her town.

At 14, Marta was discovered by a scout while playing on a boys’ junior team.

She faced many challenges growing up, including skepticism about women playing football. At one point, she almost gave up the sport but was encouraged by her mother to keep pursuing her passion.

As a child, she had to improvise by cramming together grocery bags into the shape of a ball to kick around the streets.

Only six years before she was born, in 1986, Brazil lifted a decades-long ban on women playing football.

She was first picked to play on the Brazil national team in 2002.

For a while, she had to play futsal to earn some money when the women's team at Vasco was cut by the president of the club.

She had also played handball at regional level in Brazil.

Her football heroes were Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.

She has dual citizenship - Brazilian and Swedish.

When she first made money for playing football, it was about $50 per month.

Her basic annual salary is less than Lionel Messi makes in a week.

She enjoys playing the guitar, particularly country music, and has learned both Brazilian and American country songs.

She's had three dogs.

News

NWSL Power Rankings: The Pride continue winning streak, Spirit show off in Olympic return, fight for the playoffs picks up

Aug 29, 2024

Marta Orlando Pride

NWSL Power Rankings: The Pride continue winning streak, Spirit show off in Olympic return, fight for the playoffs picks up

The Orlando Pride dominate, as the race for a playoff spot heats up across the league. The NWSL season is back, and the Orlando Pride have everyone locked in. Unbeaten in 18 straight games, and sitting at the top of the standings, the Pride are heating things up across the league. Elsewhere, battles for a playoff spots continue. With all of the Olympians back in NWSL play, the teams are generally operating with their full rosters.

Marta's Magic in World Cup Semi-final

Marta scores the game-winner for the Orlando Pride

Marta scores on a direct free kick

Marta magic in Orlando ?

Marta is the GOAT of women's football!

Club Achievements

Damallsvenskan	7×
Svenska Cupen	1×
UEFA Women's Cup	1×
Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Femenino	1×
Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino	1×
WPS Championship	2×
NWSL Shield	1×
Pan American Games	2×
Sudamericano Femenino	3×
Summer Olympics Silver Medal	3×

Awards

FIFA Women’s Player of the Year

6×

FIFPro World XI

4×

WPS Golden Boot

3×

Damallsvenskan Top Scorer

3×

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Golden Ball

1×

FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Boot

1×

FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Ball

1×

FIFA Special Award for an Outstanding Career Achievement

1×

Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award

2×

Sudamericano Femenino Golden Boot

1×

Sports Illustrated Top 20 Female Athletes of the Decade (2000–2009)

1×

IFFHS World's Best Woman Playmaker

1×

IFFHS Women's World Team

1×

IFFHS World's Best Woman Player of the Decade 2011–2020

1×

IFFHS CONMEBOL Best Woman Player of the Decade 2011–2020

1×

IFFHS World's Woman Team of the Decade 2011-2020

1×

IFFHS CONMEBOL Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020

1×

NWSL Team of the Month

6×

NWSL Goal of the Week

4×

NWSL Best XI

1×

Stats

Year	Club	AP	GL
2017 - present	Orlando Pride	121	40
2014 - 2017	Rosengård	81	42
2012 - 2014	Tyresö	50	37
2011 - 2012	Western New York Flash	15	10
2011 -	Santos	12	13
2010 -	Gold Pride	25	20
2009 - 2010	Santos (loan)	14	26
2009 -	Los Angeles Sol	20	10
2004 - 2008	Umeå IK	103	111
2002 - 2004	Santa Cruz	38	16
2000 - 2002	Vasco de Gama	16	4
International Stats
2002 - 2024	Brazil	204	119