A legendary figure both on and off the pitch, Marta was presented with the award following more than 20 years of stellar service to the sport.
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Marta has been honoured with the FIFA Special Award
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Prize is awarded for outstanding career achievement
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Joins Christine Sinclair, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pele in receiving the honour
In 1986, a baby girl was born in Dois Riachos, Alagoas state, who would play football in a city ironically named Jacare dos Homens (Alligator of Men) and would grow up to become a symbol and personification of female football the world over. Marta, the Queen, has deservedly been showered with tributes and has received another homage in the form of the FIFA Special Award, bestowed on an individual for outstanding career achievements, at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ ceremony on 15 January 2024.
Few players win an award whose name encapsulates their achievements so neatly. After all, the Brazilian has been voted the best player in the world no fewer than six times (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2018).
Her FIFA Women’s World Cup™ record is nothing short of sensational. Across six tournaments, Marta scored 17 goals in 23 matches making her the highest scorer in World Cup history in both men and women’s football. Among active players, her closest rivals for the accolade of top World Cup scorer are Lionel Messi (13 goals) and Kylian Mbappe (12).
As of 2025, FIFA will introduce a new award to honour her legendary achievements – the best goal scored in women’s football will receive the ‘Marta Award’.
“Of course, it makes me extremely happy to have the record,” Marta told FIFA. “But it represents Brazil as a nation – not Marta but all of us. It’s a huge honour for me to hold this record.”
Marta is still shining brightly for Orlando Pride and Brazil’s national team, but she decided that last year’s World Cup would be her last.
“There’ll be no more World Cups for Marta,” said the No10. “I’m very happy about how women’s football has evolved in Brazil and in the world. There are girls bursting with talent who have a massive future in front of them. It’s just the start for them, while for me it’s the end of the line.”
Many young female footballers now have the doors open to them to build a career thanks to Marta’s fighting spirit. The girl from Dois Riachos did not have many role models in women’s football because the star players at the time did not receive the same media coverage as today. Nowadays, the Queen is an inspiration for girls all around the world.
“Playing alongside Marta was a dream come true for me,” said Ary Borges, one the rising stars of the new Brazilian generation. “And after getting to know her as a human being, you only admire Marta even more. You can understand why people refer to her as the Queen of Football. She leads by example on and off the pitch.”
Marta is also held in the highest esteem by other giants of the women’s game. Two-time American world champion Megan Rapinoe has paid tribute to the Brazilian star. “Marta is the best sportsperson I’ve ever seen play, and I saw Kobe Bryant win the NBA! Marta is truly levels above all of us,” said the legendary player during a live Instagram stream in 2020.
Although Marta never got her hands on the World Cup trophy, few people planet football exemplify the competition as much as she does.
Marta is one of a select group of players who have scored at five different editions, together with Christine Sinclair (Canada) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal). Like Marta, both these players have been recipients of the FIFA Special Award.
Her magical history at the tournament began in 2003 in USA and she came close to glory four years later in China. That year Brazil thrilled the world with a brand of football typified by mazy dribbles and daring play, thrashing USA 4-0 in the semi-final with Marta scoring a wonder goal.
However, A 2-0 defeat to Germany in the final thwarted Brazil’s best chance to date of being crowned world champions. Winner of the adidas Golden Ball and the adidas Golden Boot that year, the No10 would have swapped both of these personal accolades for football’s biggest prize.
As she herself said in 2019: “Cry at the beginning so you can smile at the end.”
It is just as well, therefore, that Marta still has the opportunity to smile, compete in and win the women’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She was a standout performer in Brazil’s best two runs in the competition, winning the silver medal in 2004 and 2008, and she has not ruled out playing in the competition again.
The possibility of Marta never lifting a World Cup or Olympic title with Brazil may seem unjust, but it would be a mere detail compared to the huge impact her career has had back home and across the globe, as well as the unforgettable influence she has had on the pitch.
(FIFA)
