Growing up without a father, who left the family when she was only one year old, the future queen of Brazilian football also had to endure poverty, hunger and even prejudice from her own brothers, who disapproved of their little sister playing with a ball rather than dolls. But the girl from Dois Riachos, deep in the countryside of Alagoas, one of Brazil’s most deprived states, has had to overcome much more than just being occasionally overlooked by a few casual onlookers. The likes of Garrincha, Rivellino, Zico and even Neymar were among the names discussed, but not once did they mention Marta, 2024-25 mexico jersey a six-time World Player of the Year recipient and the country’s all-time top goalscorer among both women and men.
