She has been four times awarded FIFA Women's World Player of the Year (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). She was a member of the Brazilian National Teams that won the silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics. She was also named the Golden Ball (MVP) at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship (six goals in tournament), in which Brazil finished fourth. In the 2007 Women's World Cup, she won both the Golden Ball award as the best player and the Golden Boot award as the top scorer.
On July 26, 2007, Marta and the Brazilian women's team beat the US U-20 National Team to win the Pan American Games at the famous Estádio do Maracanã in front of a crowd of 68,000. She was compared, by the Brazilian fans, with Brazilian great Pelé, being called "Pelé with skirts". Even Pelé himself agreed with the comparison. Marta has stated that he called her to congratulate for the win and that she was extremely happy to hear that one of the greatest ever players followed her team's games. Afterwards the imprint of her feet was recorded in cement at the stadium, making her the first woman to be so honoured.
Marta participated in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup with Brazil. Brazil strolled through their group, winning all three games, with Marta scoring a brace in the first two matches. Brazil won 3-2 over Australia in the quarter-finals on September 23. Marta scored 2-0 from the penalty spot and is now equal with Norway's Ragnhild Guldbrandsen in the World cup top scorer award with 5 goals. On September 27, Marta scored two goals in the semi final of the World Cup as Brazil won 4-0 against the United States, the second goal scored in spectacular fashion. Marta finished the 2007 Women's World Cup as the top individual player, but was unable to win the championship losing to Germany in the final match 2-0 and having a penalty kick blocked by the German keeper which would have tied the match midway through the second half of play. She finished as top scorer and was named best player of the tournament.
Personal information
Full name : Marta Vieira da Silva
Date of birth : February 19, 1986 (1986-02-19) (age 24)
Place of birth: Dois Riachos, Alagoas, Brazil
Height : 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Playing position : Forward
