Age: 33 (b. Feb. 19, 1986, in Dois Riachos, Alagoas, Brazil)
Position: Forward
Years played: 2000-present
Teams: Brazilian women’s national team (2002-present), Vasco de Gama (2000-02), Santa Cruz (2002-04), Umea IK (2004-08), Los Angeles Sol (2009), Santos (2009-10), FC Gold Pride (2010), Santos (2011), Western New York Flash (2011), Tyreso FF (2012-14), FC Rosengard (2014-17), Orlando Pride (2017-present)
Key stats: Six-time FIFA World Player of the Year (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2018). Won 2007 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball and Golden Shoe. Capped 120 times by Brazil.
Bottom line: Marta Vieiera da Silva is the only soccer player, male or female, to be named the World Player of the Year six times, with five straight wins from 2006 to 2010. She’s playing in her fifth Women’s World Cup in 2019, a stage where she’s been at her very best.
Marta first grabbed the world’s attention at the 2007 World Cup, where she led Brazil to the finals and won the Golden Ball for the tournament’s top player and Golden Boot for being the top scorer with seven goals. She gained acclaim for scoring two brilliant goals in a 4-0 win over the U.S.
She’s also won two silver medals at the Olympics, in 2004 and 2008.