Marta
Marta
Forward who joined Brazil's national team in 2002 and became the all-time leading scorer in Women's World Cup history. She was named the FIFA World Player of the Year five straight years from 2006 to 2010.
NationalityBrazilian
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth19 February 1986
CityDois Riachos, Brazil
CountryBrazil
against explore female football girls good matters obvious playing regardless side uniform women
I think what really matters is the support you get in football regardless of the uniform you wear. Some girls feel good playing in long shorts, while some of them feel good playing in tighter shorts. I'm not against it. It's obvious that women have to explore that female side of things, and I don't think that's a mistake.
brazil change course culture instead league maybe men problems strong women
One of our problems is the culture of Brazil which focuses on men's football. Of course we would like to change that. Maybe one day we will have a strong competitive league instead of our women footballers always having to play abroad.
leagues majority reason unknown widely women
But the reason that women's football is still unknown is because it's not on television and not widely publicised for a wide majority of the leagues in the world.
attention cup level olympics people surprise women year
Clearly, those of us women who play football wish that there was more coverage. But it's one of those things that happens. Every year the level is getting higher, and I think we surprise a lot of people when the world focuses its attention on the World Cup or the Olympics final.
accepted boys brazil comments family games girl macho mainly people soccer society sports
Some boys accepted me, some didn't. And my family had comments made to them. Brazil is still a very macho society, and sports are mainly for boys, so people would say to them: 'What is this girl doing? Why is she always out there in the soccer games with the boys?'
football male physical playing time
I play football in training all the time with my male friends, who are also professionals. But playing together in competition? I just don't see it. We have the ability, we have the technique, we have the tactical understanding, but there are physical limitations. You can't get away from that.
against brazil knew women
I didn't know there was such a thing as professional soccer, but I knew that Brazil had a women's team that competed against other countries, and I wanted to be on that team.
hope intention involved people projects
My intention is to get more involved in social projects so I can give people a message of hope.
brazil female masculine people seen sports
Football in Brazil is seen as a masculine sport, even with a lot of people accepting the female sport.
women
Clearly, those of us women who play football wish that there was more coverage.
ability activities bit female football fragile men perform prejudice regarding resistance types various women
There's still prejudice and that resistance regarding women, not only on female football but in various activities. Men think that women are a bit fragile to perform some types of activities or don't have the ability and aren't strong enough.
playing suffered teams
When I started playing, there were no teams and no structure, so I had to play with the boys. I get very emotional when I think about the humiliation that I've suffered playing football.
bit grab main
I think my main objective is to watch as many players as I can and grab a little bit from each of them, especially the things they do well.
feeling overcoming
We all have obstacles. The feeling of satisfaction comes by overcoming something.