Marta interview From hard knocks to heroism
Marta has battled bullies, sexism and financial strife to become the planet’s best player – now she wants to inspire a new generation. The Selecao legend tells FFT about her journey to the top
The best female footballer of all time is welling up, her voice quivering as she remembers the most treasured moment of her career. Marta, the six- time FIFA World Player of the Year, is on the verge of tears not because she is the overall top scorer at men’s or women’s World Cup finals, nor because she has overtaken Pele in her tally for the Selecao. The 34- year- old Brazilian is rewinding to 2006, and cherishing the day when Dois Riachos – her hometown in western Alagoas with a population of just under 12,000 – gave her a hero’s welcome in the middle of the night as she showed off the first of her six coveted individual prizes during a record- breaking journey.
As she opens up to Fourfourtwo, the Orlando Pride forward discusses her amazing battle to become the best female star in football history, plus the time Pele pranked her on the phone, teenage shock in snowy Sweden and working as a UN ambassador...
How did you fall in love with football?
I was born into a very humble family with two brothers and one sister. My parents broke up when I was a baby, so my grandmother played a huge role in my upbringing. Our family is big – there were always plenty of cousins around, and I wanted to play football with them. That’s how it all started. When I was seven, I realised I had some talent and started to consider the possibility of being a footballer. Over the years, I understood that football could be the way to change my family’s life.
To what extent did your family struggle in your childhood?
After my parents split up, my mum needed to work twice as hard for us to have the minimum at home – food to eat and a place to stay. It’s still difficult for people who live in Dois Riachos without a big range of jobs: it’s basically either agriculture or being a civil servant – it depends on your education. My mum never studied and only knows how to write her own name after we taught her, so back then it was very tough. The objective was to have enough to eat each day, but that wasn’t possible all the time and our grandmother saved us.
Who were your football idols as a kid?
I hardly ever saw a woman kicking a ball when I started playing, and on television it was even worse. I didn’t have a female reference simply because I didn’t know them. Sissi and Pretinha, icons of the Brazil team, were playing but not on TV. Despite that, I loved watching Rivaldo. He was going through a wonderful moment in that mythical No. 10 shirt, and was left- footed like me. That fascinated me as a kid. I wouldn’t call him a hero, as no one can beat my mum on that front, although he was by far the first footballer I enjoyed watching.
What were the toughest obstacles you faced being a girl who loved playing?
As there weren’t any female teams in my town or in the region, playing for a male side turned out to be a huge challenge. Playing in Maceio, the state capital, was a distant dream that my family was nowhere near able to afford. Many times I heard jokes and mean comments that intimidated me, and there was more than one day when I didn’t know what to do. Sometimes I’d end up literally fighting with the boys to get their respect and show them that I could play. I tried to answer the sexism and discrimination on the pitch. As tough as it was, it also pushed me to prove what I was capable of – dribbling past everyone and shooting hard.
Eventually you got a trial at Vasco da Gama, more than 2,000km away...
I was only 14 at the time but didn’t think twice about it. That trip happened after two editions of a futsal tournament I used to play in back in the day. Every weekend the team would go to
“I ARRIVED IN SWEDEN WEARING ONLY A SUIT AND HIGH HEELS. I’D NEVER EVEN SEEN SNOW BEFORE”
Santana do Ipanema, around 20km from Dois Riachos, but one of the other team’s managers said they would pull out if I carried on lining up with the boys. There wasn’t actually a specific rule preventing me from playing there, but the majority of sides were against it and my team director said I could no longer play from that moment. The tournament’s coordinator came from Rio de Janeiro, however, and one of my cousins asked him if he could help us arrange a trial at either Vasco da Gama or Fluminense – they had very strong female sides back then. It wasn’t straightforward, though, as I needed enough money to afford a bus ticket and food, given that I would be spending three days on the road. My family and friends mobilised our neighbourhood to raise some cash, and that’s how I made it 2,000km to Rio. My mum didn’t think I’d be brave enough to leave everything behind, but I didn’t think much about it – my mind was focused on fulfilling my dream. She only really believed me when I got on the bus! The rest is history.
When did you start to believe that you could make it as a footballer?
It clicked when I arrived at Vasco and noticed their facilities: all the girls with proper kit, each of them with her own ball for training sessions. Back in Dois Riachos, I was used to sharing one ball with about 20 other children. I knew I was at the best possible place in the right moment, and that I’d only evolve from there. The funny bit was that I was living at Marcos’ home – the guy who’d helped me get down to Rio – but he didn’t tell me when the trial would take place. I waited for an entire week, then one morning I woke up and he told me to get ready. I didn’t have much time to dwell on it.
That was in 2000 – then four years later, via Santa Cruz, you joined Swedish side Umea. How did that happen?
I’d made my debut for Brazil in 2002, then we played Sweden at the 2003 World Cup. We lost 2- 1 in the last 16, but I scored a penalty. A few months later, a Swedish TV crew were in Brazil to interview Robinho – who was impressing for Santos – and the journalists decided to film me for a section on Brazilian female football. After the show was broadcast in Sweden, Umea got in touch. To be honest, I initially thought it was a prank call. I didn’t even know where Sweden was on a map! But they kept asking for about a week, and I eventually realised that it would be a great opportunity for me to keep showing my work not only in the national side, but also in the Champions League. Joining Umea was one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever made. It was there that I really started living the life of a footballer, taking good care of my body and following a specific routine set out by the club.
Was it difficult adapting from life in South America to Scandinavia?
I arrived in northern Sweden in February 2004, and it was snowing. I’d never even seen snow before, so was pretty poorly prepared wearing only a suit and high heels! Thank God Umea’s
president was waiting for me in Stockholm and had a proper jacket. We then flew up to Umea, and when I stepped off the plane it was pitch black at 4pm. I thought, ‘ They fooled me! How can I play football here?’ [ Laughs] The first few days were shocking, but over time I settled in and met a few Brazilians who helped me feel more at home. [ FFT: How did the cold weather affect your game early on?] The toughest part was not being able to feel my toes and being struck by really hard shots. I tried to run even more and constantly move my body, to keep it as warm as I could.
Your scoring record at Umea was incredible: more than 100 goals at a rate better than one a game. How did you adjust to European football so quickly?
From the beginning, I felt I could make a great impression because I joined the club at a very young age. When you’re 18, you go for 100m runs without feeling a thing. I’ve always been quick, so it was one of my strengths to dribble past opponents who were much stronger than me. My five years at Umea were fantastic – we were Swedish champions four times and won the UEFA Women’s Cup as well. I was flying on the pitch! I used to easily do 20 sprints during matches. Today, if I achieve 10 then I’m over the moon. [ Laughs]
What has been the standout moment from your decorated career?
It happened in 2006 and I think I’m going to cry remembering it… [ Marta fights back tears]
I returned to Dois Riachos with the FIFA World Player of the Year award in my hands. I arrived in the city at midnight, but everyone was still awake to welcome me home. The streets were full of people, and others were out riding their motorcycles around town – even the fire trucks were there for me. It’s the most unforgettable moment of my career by far. It’s surreal to be born in the countryside of Alagoas, where your chances of enjoying a successful career barely exist, then travel across the world and pick up that award in Switzerland. If I’d just stayed in Alagoas, what would I be doing right now? I’d be married with many kids, probably farming. I still don’t fully understand what it all means, and maybe that’s why I get emotional every time I go there.
How did you react when Pele said that you were the female version of him?
I was completely honoured to hear that from the best player of all time. People may think there shouldn’t be any kind of comparison, but in this case it’s an honour for me. I feel very privileged to be remembered like that by our king. [ FFT: You’ve met the Brazilian icon a few times. How was that?] Three times I think, between FIFA events and a ceremony in Brazil. We had a chat, then Pele looked at me and said, “Your legs are more beautiful than mine.” I got quite embarrassed and didn’t know what to say – it was a special moment for me.
Talk us through the day Pele called you out of the blue, too...
We had the same sponsor, and Pele was with the guys from that company. It was funny. He initially said, “Do you know who this is?” I said, “No.” His reply was, “It’s Edson.” I said, “Which one?” [ Laughs] It took me a little while to work out that I was talking to Pele over the phone.
Have you spoken to Pele since you broke his record for the most Brazil goals?
No, not yet – but everything is completely fine between us! He has also talked about an issue going on in Maceio, my state’s capital, where there’s a debate about renaming the Estadio Rei Pele the ‘ Estadio Rainha Marta’. It’s not up to me to speak about that, although it would be an honour to share the name. Imagine that – the first stadium ever to have a king
and queen as its name!
How does it feel to be regarded as the best female player ever?
The same as when people call me the ‘ Queen of Football’, a genius or ‘ GOAT’... I just take it in the best way possible. I prefer to use it as motivation to continue excelling with my work, to keep pushing me forward. It’s not my desire to be regarded as the greatest female player of all time. After I’ve hung up my boots, I’d like to see more Martas – more girls playing football to keep taking Brazil across the world.
Do you have conversations with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when you meet them? Any chance of joking that you have one more award than Cristiano?
No! [ Laughs] We all get on well. I recently flew to Turin to do a photoshoot for a sponsor, and Cristiano was kind once again. He’s competitive and so am I, but he’s an inspiration for me, no doubt. He’s incredibly professional and always gives his best to keep evolving. Messi is pretty shy and I don’t speak a lot of Spanish, so with him it’s more like, ‘ How are you doing?’ I don’t want to disturb others, so I stay quiet!
You made a very emotional speech straight after Brazil lost to France at the 2019 World Cup, talking about the next generation...
That wasn’t planned at all – it came from the heart after I saw one of my young team- mates in tears. I’ve represented the national team for a long time, and when I started we barely had kit to train in. We’ve progressed so much, and the idea was to tell the next generation to be aware of their responsibilities in order to avoid a regression. I’ve always demanded a lot from clubs, directors and the private sector, but us players have a part to play, too. That’s why it’s important to work hard every day if they really want to have football careers.
What does being the only Latino woman as a UN ambassador mean to you?
I believe I was given this great opportunity for everything I went through in life. I faced some struggles that the UN now tries to avoid, so we use my image to tackle discrimination and the other things I suffered. They appreciate my life story and recognise that you don’t have to be a big film star to be a role model. I’m flattered to send the message of empowerment, hope and confidence across the globe.