Marta Vieira Da Silva

Marta Vieira da Silva, born on February 19, 1986, in Dois Riachos, Alagoas, Brazil, began her professional football career at a young age. Discovered by coach Helena Pacheco at 14, she played for Vasco da Gama in 2000 before transferring to Santa Cruz. In 2004, Marta moved to Swedish club Umeå IK, where she quickly made an impact, winning the UEFA Women’s Cup in 2004 and four Damallsvenskan titles. Her exceptional skill earned her the FIFA World Player of the Year award five consecutive times from 2006 to 2010.

Her career further developed with moves to Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) teams like Los Angeles Sol, FC Gold Pride, and Western New York Flash, where she consistently earned MVP and Golden Boot honors. Marta also had successful stints with Santos in Brazil and Tyresö FF and FC Rosengård in Sweden, winning multiple league titles and reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League final with Tyresö in 2014. On the international stage, Marta has been a cornerstone of the Brazilian national team, winning silver medals at the Olympic Games in 2004, 2008, and 2024. She holds the record for most goals in any World Cup, men’s or women’s, with 17, and is the first player to score in five different World Cups and five consecutive Olympic Games. She helped Brazil win multiple Copa América Femenina titles (2003, 2010, 2018, 2025).

In 2017, Marta joined Orlando Pride, where she continues to play a pivotal role. She captained the team to their first NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship in 2024 and became the first Pride player to reach 100 appearances. Beyond her athletic achievements, Marta is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and a Sustainable Development Goals advocate, championing equality in women’s football. She launched her sportswear brand, Go Equal, in 2023, donating royalties to organizations that promote female leadership in sports, underlining her dedication to empowering women both on and off the field.