The “Michael Jackson”: Brazilian National Team and Europe

Women's football got to FIFA in 1988, with the organization of the Experimental Tournament in China. That was a test for creating the World Cup. The tournament inspired the creation, by CBF, of the first Brazil's National Female team. And Michael, the biggest scorer, was there.

16 players from Radar were invited to the team. Under coach João Varela's command, the team stared famous players Pelezinha, Marcinha, Lica and Russa.

The women trained at the military facility CEFAN - Center of Physical Education Almirante Adalberto Nunes. They went through an adaptation to China's time zone, still in Brazil. Lunch time at 5pm, dinner at midnight and sleep time at 4am.

In Guangdong, July 1st 1988, the first match scared everyone as Brazil was defeated by Australia, 1 to 0. The second game, on day 3, another surprise: a win of 2x0 over Norway, a winning team that hadn't been defeated for 28 games straight. On day 5, the third match: a generous win over Thailand, 9x0. Brazil brought home a bronze medal, getting third place after defeating the tournament hosts, China. Michael scored 3 goals in the tournament and said: "We didn't know what they were saying, we just knew how to play football."

Created in 1991, the South American Women's Football was responsible for classifying the selections for the World Cup, which began the same year. Marileia dos Santos competed in the 2nd edition held in January 1995 in the city of Uberlândia.

Players like Meg, Marane, Elane, Solange, Sissi, Leda Maria, Cenira, Pretinha, Roseli and Michael Jackson, under the command of the coach Ademar Júnior, brought a stir to the local fans, after a rain of goals in the conquest of the second championship.

"This wonderful crowd is encouraging us. And we also have ability on the pitch, which is excellent, but heavy. We are more prepared or maybe adapted because we train more than the other teams," Michael said in an interview with Folha de S. Paulo at the time.

With an average of 40,000 people per match and a record 68,000 spectators in the final match against Argentina, the sports feast promoted at Sabiá Park helped promote the explosive football of striker Michael Jackson nationally.

After the success of South American, the city of Uberlândia was the scene of another international women's football tournament. The Maizena brand sponsored an event with the presence of Brazilian, Argentine and Australian teams.

Still in 1995,the italian team Torino Calcio Femminile, came to Brazil for a friendly match in the cities of São Paulo and Sorocaba. At Pacaembu Stadium, the Brazilian team won 3-0 with Michael Jackson. And again, 1-0 in the second game. The Italian team then invited Michael to play abroad. It was the first international transaction of a female Brazilian player. At 32 years old, she spent two seasons in Italy, from 1995 to 1997, defending Torino Calcio Femminile, conquering Menton's International Tournament in France, 1996 and Blanes' International Tournament in Spain, 1997.

The World Cup in Sweden, in 1995, had 12 teams in 3 groups. The team was confident after a good campaign in the South American championship. It was Michael's first appearance at a world championship, alongside Roseli, Fanta, Elane and Leda Maria. The coach was Ademar Fonseca, called Dema. They beat the Swedish team 1-0 in their first game, but lost to Japan 1 - 0. Michael did not play against Germany, for a yellow card suspention. The hope of victory resparked after the news that women's football would be in the Olimpic Games after 1996.

The 100th anniversary of the Olympic Games happened in Atlanta, USA and represented a new opportunity to promote brazilian's young National team, having played for only eight years. Under Zé Duarte's command, the team grouped in Rapid City, Dakota and played seven friendly matches in preparation heading to Atlanta.