Before leaving the Women’s World Cup as a participant for the sixth and final time, Marta embraced Jamaica captain Khadija “Bunny” Shaw.
The Reggae Girlz had simply despatched Brazil and Marta residence by holding them to a 0-0 draw Wednesday night time, and Shaw shared emotional phrases with one hand resting over her coronary heart and the opposite holding Marta’s hand.
“I just told her that she’s not just an inspiration for me, but for a lot of young girls in the Caribbean and around the world,” Shaw stated.
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With the win, Jamaica turned the primary Caribbean nation to advance to the Women’s World Cup knockout rounds.
“She just said that she’s watched our journey, ever since we qualified,” Shaw stated, “and she credits us because every time we got knocked down, we still get up and keep pushing.”
Marta, 37, holds the document for essentially the most World Cup targets scored, ladies or males, with 17. She was the primary participant to attain in 5 consecutive Women’s World Cups, debuting on the 2003 event.
“Her legacy continues, it doesn’t end here,” Brazil’s Ary Borges stated. Marta “is a woman who will continue to inspire not only my generation, but (new) generations.”
Brazil did not advance out of the group stage for the primary time since 1995, and Marta couldn’t capitalize on the possibility to grow to be the primary participant, lady of man, to attain in six World Cups.
But her pending retirement means neither that, nor a Women’s World Cup title, will likely be part of her outstanding legacy.
Marta admitted she began getting sentimental as she seemed on the moon in Melbourne, making an attempt to summon a approach to create or rating the objective that Brazil wanted to maintain progressing on the World Cup. She noticed her youthful teammates on the lookout for inspiration, and knew she needed to dig deep.
“Especially because it was their first World Cup and it’s just the beginning — I won’t play in another World Cup, but they will have other opportunities,” she stated. “So I had to stop lamenting. It’s football, we tried from start to finish, we tried to score but the ball didn’t want to go in.”
Marta is aware of there’ll be critics who’ll have loads to say about Brazil’s efficiency right here. She’s additionally reassured there’s sufficient help for ladies’s soccer to maintain the sport rising.
“Women’s football doesn’t end here. Women’s football in Brazil doesn’t end here,” she stated. “We need to understand this.”
On the eve of what turned her closing World Cup recreation, Marta shed tears as she recalled what it was like 20 years in the past when she began out. She looks like she’s leaving it in higher form for the following technology.
“I always said that the World Cup wasn’t just about Marta, the World Cup belonged to the national team,” she stated. “We started it together and ended it together. Winning or losing, it makes no difference. I’ll stay with the good times, with the work that’s been done so far.”
The Seleção began off robust of their event opener, beating Panama 4-0. They misplaced to France 2-1, organising a must-win state of affairs towards Jamaica of their Group F finale.
Marta got here off the bench in Brazil’s first two group-stage matches however returned to the beginning lineup towards Jamaica. She was subbed off within the 81st minute, making approach for a brisker, youthful teammate to take up the problem.
“She’s a trailblazer for us women,” Jamaica ahead Cheyna Matthews stated. “I can’t thank her enough. I hate that it had to be this way, but this is what she’s been fighting for, is for us all to be able to play this game and play it well and get the recognition.”
