Marta’s NWSL Championship: The Biggest Game of Her Career
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s not every day that a player with a résumé as decorated as Marta’s declares a single game to be the most important of her career. But that’s exactly what the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year did this week as she prepares to lead the Orlando Pride into Saturday’s NWSL Championship against the Washington Spirit. Standing in the luxurious stadium club of CPKC Stadium, Marta raised her right index finger to signify the No. 1 spot this game holds in her heart. Yes, even above a World Cup final and three Olympic gold-medal matches.
“The way we [played] from the beginning of the season to now, it’s something very special that I never had before in any other club that I played for,” Marta said, her voice filled with emotion.
For Marta, this season has been a journey unlike any other. She reflected on her humble beginnings as a 14-year-old traveling three days by bus to Rio de Janeiro for a tryout. Now, at 38 years old, she’ll have her mother, Tereza Vieira de Sá, in the stands for the first time in her 11 seasons playing in the United States. It’s a full-circle moment for the Brazilian legend, and she’s savoring every second of it.
“Why Am I Still Here?”
“Every single year I ask myself, ‘Why am I still here?’” Marta admitted on Thursday. “Maybe this year gave me the answer that I was looking for. Maybe it was because I need to be here to play the Championship in 2024 with this club, to enjoy this amazing season that we had.”
Despite her age, Marta has no plans to hang up her boots just yet. She revealed that she intends to play for two more seasons, which would see her retiring at the end of 2026. However, she has made it clear that she does not plan to participate in the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted by her home country of Brazil. Instead, she’s focused on helping the national team prepare for the tournament and mentoring younger players.
“When I say I don’t want to play 2027, I don’t want to have this responsibility to play in the club to be in the national team,” Marta explained. “I’ve been doing [that] for 20, 21 years in my life. I’m feeling like it’s time to just enjoy a little bit more. Be in the club but don’t have this responsibility to be in the national team, too. But like I said, if they need me, I’m here.”
A Season to Remember
Marta has been nothing short of spectacular this season. She scored nine goals, tying for fourth in the NWSL, marking her best club season since joining Orlando in 2017. Her game-winning goal in last Sunday’s 3-2 semifinal victory over the Kansas City Current was a viral sensation, drawing comparisons to her iconic 2007 World Cup semifinal goal against the United States. In that moment, she juggled the ball over her head and a defender before scoring—a play that remains etched in soccer history.
“You need to feel good with your body to help yourself do good things on the field,” Marta said. “But it’s more here [points to head]. Sometimes I just try to mentalize good things, mentalize something that I already did in my life as a soccer player, and it happened.”
She even admitted that her stunning semifinal goal was fueled by a bit of anger. “I was a little bit mad before I scored the goal. I tried to be nice most of the time during the game and I tried to speak to somebody else and she was a little bit diva. I said, OK, you made me mad. I’m gonna go 1-v-1 with you. It happened for a good reason and resulted in a nice goal and really important goal for the team.”
The Final Showdown
Orlando enters Saturday’s championship as the narrow favorite. The Pride are the No. 1 seed after an incredible season that saw them go unbeaten through 23 games, setting a league record. But the No. 2 seed Washington Spirit is no slouch. They won 18 games this year, also a league record, and finished just four points behind Orlando in the standings.
For Marta, this game is about more than just a trophy. It’s a chance to cap off what she calls a “perfect season” and finally win an NWSL Championship. Despite her many accolades, she has experienced heartbreak in every major tournament final she’s played in with Brazil. Saturday offers her a shot at redemption.
- Orlando Pride: No. 1 seed, unbeaten through 23 games.
- Washington Spirit: No. 2 seed, 18 wins this season.
- Marta’s 2024 Stats: Nine goals, tied for fourth in the league.
“It’s only one game, and I know how important it is,” Marta said. “We know if we win this, it will be like a perfect season. But we can’t forget about everything that we did this season.”
As the soccer world watches, Marta is ready to leave it all on the field. Whether or not the Pride lift the trophy, this season—and this game—will forever hold a special place in her legendary career.
Originally Written by: Jeff Kassouf
