image source, Getty Images
- author, emily sally
- role, bbc sports journalist
Brazilian legend Marta has announced that she will retire from international football this year.
The 38-year-old striker holds Brazil's all-time top goalscoring record in both men's and women's soccer.
Marta could make her sixth Olympic appearance if she is selected to represent Brazil at this summer's Paris Games.
“If I go to the Olympics, I'm going to enjoy every moment because this is my last year with the national team, whether I go to the Olympics or not,” she told CNN in Brazil.
“Marta as an athlete will not be in the national team after 2025.”
She won Olympic silver medals in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, but lost to the United States in both competitions.
Marta is the all-time leading scorer for both men's and women's World Cups, scoring 17 goals in 23 appearances across six tournaments.
The closest she came to World Cup glory was in 2007, when Brazil finished runners-up to Germany.
Marta, who has played club soccer for the Orlando Pride since 2017, said he feels relieved to be passing the baton to Brazil's next generation of soccer players.
“We have a really talented team with some really talented girls on our team. They'll know what I'm talking about as the years go by,” she said. .
“Because of this, I feel very comfortable saying, 'Listen, I'm passing on to you, I'm passing the baton, and you will continue to carry on this legacy.'
