When soccer legend Marta scored in last week's semi-final, An incredible breakaway that ended with four defenders falling. The Orlando Pride home crowd went wild, and rightly so. It was a stunning, near-impossible goal that only a Brazilian superstar could pull off.
Malta is known for many things. The GOAT, the Queen, the best person to ever play the game. Her skill and accomplishments are undeniable, and even at age 38 she is having an MVP-caliber season. During her long career in Brazil and with various clubs, she has proven her talent, command of the field and ability to score extraordinary goals time and time again.
Currently, Malta is competing for the NWSL Championship and is close enough to get a taste of it. After years of languishing near the bottom of the table, the Pride have finally transformed into what they should have been all along: a strong team worthy of their revered captain.
The Pride won their first Shield this year after an almost unbeaten season. They are one win away from achieving the ultimate victory: the NWSL Championship.
More than anyone else, Marta paved the way for women's football to become the sport it is today. We are on the brink of a historic First League title, both for Pride and for Malta itself.
The story of gaming in the 21st century is the story of Malta
Marta started playing soccer as a child in Brazil. She was the only girl there, the field was dirt, and the ball was sometimes a shopping bag. She was often told that she couldn't play because she was a girl.
Even in 2000, when Malta first started playing professionally, opportunities for female soccer players were limited. The world's first fully professional women's soccer league had just been established, and by the time the NWSL finally took its place, two leagues in the United States would disband.
For a long time Martha stood alone. Her skills meant she dominated the football world and inspired a generation of young girls. In her prime, she was untouchable. She won the FIFA World Player of the Year award six times, including every year from 2006 to 2010. She scored 17 goals at the World Cup, more than any other player, male or female.
In Brazil, her success elevated the women's game to a higher level and made people take it more seriously. In the NWSL, she watched the league go from doldrums to prosperity, with packed stadiums and huge media deals. Fans flocked to watch her play.
In 2024, the NWSL is poised for a record year. The league expanded to 14 teams, Number of visitors exceeds 2 million peopleplayers association signed a CBA It has a higher salary cap and expanded player protections.
Even Kansas City's CPKC Stadium, where the championship will be held, shows signs of growth for the sport. The sparkling riverside stadium was built exclusively for women's professional soccer for the first time in history and opened earlier this year.
It is far from the soil field.
Double the power of women's soccer
Perhaps Marta's greatest accomplishment is the impact she has had on her colleagues, all of whom speak very highly of her.
Barbra Banda, the Zambian striker who joined Malta in this year's Pride and enjoyed incredible success.Explained the opportunity to play with teammates “It's a dream come true.” She added: “I always looked up to Marta from an early age.”
said Sophia Smith, a US forward who recently played against Malta at the Olympics. I grew up watching Malta. And I looked to her play for inspiration.
“We wouldn't be here without Marta, who changed the game forever and continues to change the game,” Smith said. “Having her play in our league helped a lot.”
Marta has not yet announced plans to retire from club football. she recently said The Athletic She retired from international soccer this year but said she wanted to play “at least two more years.”
Win or lose, Saturday's championship will be the culmination of everything Marta has done for the sport. She has shared the field with young stars like Banda, paving the way for their growth. Once an extraordinary talent, she now plays in a league full of potential.
And while women's football still faces challenges, it is in a much better place than when Malta first started playing. “I left my family behind at the age of 14 to pursue my dream of playing soccer, a sport traditionally thought of as a women's sport,” Marta said in a statement ahead of the 2024 Olympics, which will be her final tournament representing Brazil. “I didn't have it,” he said. “Today, things are very different.”
This weekend we'll find out if Legend finally gets his hands on the flower.
