Visibility for Women's Football (2011) by Foto Lars Baron | FIFA | Getty ImagesThe Football Museum
Brazil has been referred to as 'the country of football', but women have not always been at the forefront on the pitch. From 1941 to 1979, women's football was banned in Brazil and it wasn't until 1986 that the women's national football team played their first game.
Part of this team is Marta Vieira da Silva (number 10), a powerful, record-breaking striker. Get inspired by some of the highlights from her career so far...
Visibility for Women's Football (2001) by Fernando Pereira CollectionThe Football Museum
She was scouted for a women's football team at the age of 14
Marta started out playing football with her male peers and was part of a local boy's team before being scouted to join a women's team in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 14. She continued to play on other women's teams before being picked to join the Brazilian women's national team in 2002.
Visibility for Women's Football (2001) by Fernando Pereira collectionThe Football Museum
She was elected as 'Player of the Year' five times in a row
As the only player elected for the 'World Player of the Year' five times in a row (from 2006 to 2010), and gaining the award again in 2018, Marta has become a six-time winner of the award from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
Matchday ticket, 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup (2003)National Football Museum
Marta is a record-breaking striker
As of 2019, Marta holds the record for the most goals scored at FIFA World Cup tournaments – standing at 17 goals. This also makes her the all-time World Cup goal scorer across men and women!
Visibility for Women's Football (2015) by The Football Museum CollectionThe Football Museum
Marta is the only woman on the Maracanã sidewalk of fame
The sidewalk of fame at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro has been called the 'temple of Brazilian soccer'. In 2018, Marta was the first woman to add her footprints to the walk of fame, which has contributed to increasing the visibility of Brazil's women football players.
Visibility for Women's Football (2015-07-13) by Foto Minas Panagiotakis | Getty ImagesThe Football Museum
Discover more about women in Brazilian football.
