Brazilian footballing legend Marta has announced that she will retire from international duty at the end of the year.
The 38-year-old striker has scored 116 goals for the Brazilian national team – the country’s record in both the men’s and women’s game.
She is also the record holder for the most goals scored in FIFA World Cup history, with 17 goals in 23 appearances across six tournaments.
Marta told CNN Brasil: ‘’If I go to the Olympics, I’ll enjoy every moment because, regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team.
‘’There is no longer Marta in the national team as an athlete from 2025 onwards.”
In 2004 and 2008, Marta won an Olympic silver medal with Brazil, losing out to the USWNT in both tournaments.
The closest she has come to lifting the World Cup trophy was in 2007 when Brazil were runners up to Germany.
She has however, experienced much glory at club level, and has also been named FIFA Women’s Player of the Year an unrivalled six times, with five of them being consecutive from 2006 to 2010.
The number 10 currently plays for NWSL team Orlando Pride and has 33 goals since joining them in 2017.
She told CNN Brasil: ‘’There is a moment when we have to understand that the time has come.
‘’I am very calm about this because I see with great optimism this development that we are having in relation to young athletes.’’
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