The Most Under-appreciated Figure in Women’s Soccer
Image: These Football Times
She may not have won a Women’s World Cup title, but Marta has given an irreplaceable gift to the world of women’s soccer. Before Marta, women’s soccer did not have the respect of most people. Women’s soccer was even banned in Marta’s home country of Brazil from 1941 to 1979. Many girls, including Marta, were discouraged from playing soccer. Men believed that girls should be playing with dolls, not soccer balls. These beliefs stunted the growth of women’s soccer in Brazil and even around the world.
Consequently, Marta was a key catalyst of change both in Brazil and abroad. Before Marta, Brazilian girls only had men’s stars to look up to. Now, they have Marta, Debinha, Cristiane and many other upcoming stars that they can aspire to be. Marta taught girls that they could play professional soccer and that soccer was not just for boys.
“I believe I have a very important mission, which is to represent women’s football.”
Marta has done more than just represent women’s soccer, she has guided women’s soccer from where it was in the start of her career to the ever-developing sport it is today. While not all the credit can go to Marta for the development of women’s soccer, the sport does owe a big part of its development to the perseverance of Marta and all the other women like her.
Perhaps only after Marta has finished playing will we truly appreciate what Marta gave to women’s soccer. Women’s soccer fans owe a huge thanks to Marta because the women’s game would not be what it is today without her. Marta truly is the queen of football.
