Marta wins Best FIFA Women’s Player honor
Orlando Pride star and Brazilian legend Marta on Monday claimed her sixth FIFA Player of Year award after she was named The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2018 during a ceremony in London.
The award is given for play from Aug. 7, 2017, through May 24, 2018. While Marta’s 2018 season with the Pride wasn’t stellar, she scored a leaguehigh 13 goals to go with six assists with Orlando last season. Plus, her successful run as captain of the Brazilian women’s national team during the 2018 Copa América Femenina, which Brazil won, also was considered.
Marta beat out German women’s national team captain Dzsenifer Marozsan and Norwegian star Ada Hegerberg for the title.
“I’m really speechless because this is a fantastic moment and people tell me, ‘You’ve been in this position so many times before, and every time you get emotional,’ ” Marta said during her acceptance speech, translated by the Orlando Pride.
Marta finished the 2018 NWSL season with four goals and four assists during 17 appearances.
To get to the final three, Marta first went through a process that included votes from fans, journalists and national team coaches and captains — the same pool of votes decided the winner.
The name and format of the award have been altered through the years, but it’s the sixth time Marta has won FIFA’s version of women’s player of the year, the most for any player— male or female.