Brazil are one of the premier teams in women's football but their quest for World Cup glory in Australia and New Zealand ended in heartbreak.
They got off to a flying start in their Group F match, as they defeated Panama 4-0, with Ary Borges scoring a hat-trick but then suffered a 2-1 defeat to France.
That meant they needed to beat Jamaica in their final match but a 0-0 draw, in which Marta started the match, saw them eliminated from the group stages for first time since 1995.
Marta is Brazil's top goal scorer and second most capped player but did not get the fairytale ending she dreamed of.
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Is Marta still playing in World Cup?
Marta was still a part of the Brazil World Cup squad, despite the fact she is no longer officially the captain of the national side.
She made her first appearance of the 2023 tournament off the bench in Brazil's win over Panama, coming on in the 75th minute for woman of the match Ary Borges.
She also featured in they two subsequent group matches but failed to find the net in either of those.
That role has since been passed to teammate and defender Rafaelle Souza, who recently joined Marta's club side Orlando Pride in the NWSL.
Marta has appeared 176 times for her country to date, and has scored 115 goals.
She confirmed before the start of the 2023 World Cup that it would be her last.
How old is Marta?
Marta is currently 37-years-old and is one of the oldest players at this year's World Cup.
She was born on February 19, 1986 in the small town of Dois Riachos, in the country's east.
She was first discovered by a top football coach at the age of 14, and moved to professional club Vasco de Gama at just 16 years of age.
It was an honor watching Marta at the FIFA Women's World Cup 🐐🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/B86kXGYgIK
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 2, 2023
How many World Cups has Marta played in?
The 2023 World Cup was the sixth edition of the tournament Marta was involved in.
Marta shone at the 2007 World Cup in China, where she won the Golden Boot for top scorer with seven goals — including one against the USA in a semifinal win — and the Golden Ball for best player at the tournament; Brazil ultimately lost the final to Germany.
She became the top goal scorer in World Cup history in 2015 when she scored her 15th goal against South Korea, but she was unable to lead Brazil to glory as they were eliminated by Australia in the first knockout round.
In 2019, she became the first player in both the men's and women's World Cup to score at five tournaments.
Her current goal scoring record at World Cups stands at 17 goals in 23 matches.
How old was Marta at her first World Cup?
Marta was just 17-years-old when she played at her first ever World Cup back in 2003.
She started in all of Brazil's four matches at the tournament, scoring a goal on debut at the World Cup with a penalty against South Korea.
She then scored the third goal in Brazil's 4-1 win over Norway in their second group match, which helped the side secure top spot in the group.
She also scored a penalty in Brazil's quarterfinal against Sweden, however the European side would overpower Marta and her teammates, winning 2-1 on their way to an appearance in the final.
Marta career trophies
During her career spanning more than 20 years, Marta has won 17 trophies at both club and international level, as well as a host of individual honours.
She has won nine league titles at clubs in both the USA and Sweden, alongside three cup competitions including the women's Copa Libertadores for Brazilian club Santos.
She has also won five trophies for Brazil, winning the Pan American games twice, and the women's Copa America three times, most recently in 2018.
She has also won the FIFA Best Women's player of the year a record six times, with five of those coming between 2006-2010, and the last of those coming in 2018 whilst she was at current club Orlando Pride.
