Brazilian forward Marta expressed her disbelief at getting ready for her sixth Women’s World Cup and revealed that the upcoming tournament in Australia and New Zealand will be her final one.
The 37-year-old, who holds the record for the most goals scored by a Brazilian player with 117, made her World Cup debut in 2003. Despite winning the Copa America three times, she has yet to claim victory in the World Cup.
Brazil’s highest achievement in the international soccer tournament was finishing second to Germany in 2007. The forward has now announced that this upcoming competition will be her final opportunity to win it for her nation.
“Yes, it will be my last World Cup,” she told local media in Brasilia on Monday. “We have to understand that a time comes for us to prioritise other things.”
“I just have to be thankful to have lived all those years in the national team. To have the opportunity to go to another World Cup, a sixth one, for me is something surreal.”
Coach Pia Sundhage mentioned that Marta, who has been awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year six times, may begin the tournament on the sidelines as she continues to recover from a knee injury.
Marta underwent surgery to fix a torn anterior cruciate ligament last year and made her return to the national team in February after an absence of 11 months. She did not participate in friendly matches against England and Germany in April, but she did come on as a substitute in the 74th minute during Sunday’s 4-0 victory over Chile.
Brazil will start their World Cup campaign against Panama on July 24, followed by matches against France and Jamaica.
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