Marta was born in the state of Alagoas, but since 2004 has been living and playing in Europe, where she represents Swedish club Umea IK. A gifted left-footed attacking midfielder with a very sweet shot, Marta first showed glimpses of her talent in 2001, when she finished as top scorer in a Brazilian youth tournament. The following year, she was voted the revelation of the Brazilian team that took part in the Under-19 World Cup.

In 2003, after some excellent performances in the Pan-American Games in the Dominican Republic, where Brazil won the gold medal, and in the World Cup, where the national team reached the last eight, she received an offer to move to Sweden, and has been there ever since.

It was another year before Marta was hailed as Brazil’s best player, as she starred in the team that gained worldwide recognition for their attractive, attacking football at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Brazil won the silver medal, losing to the USA in the final.

In 2006, FIFA elected Marta, still just 20, as the best player in the world. The following year she helped the Brazilian team to retain their crown at the Pan-American Games, this time on home soil in Rio de Janeiro. She finished the tournament as top scorer with 12 goals.