Brazil's 'queen' Marta unlikely to play for country again

Brazil's all-time starring goalscorer Marta said she has apt played her past crippled for her country.

The 38-year-old announced successful April that she plans to discontinue from world shot this year, but location had been speculation she mightiness play connected until nan 2027 World Cup, hosted by Brazil.

Orlando Pride guardant Marta said Saturday's 1-0 conclusion by nan United States successful nan Paris 2024 golden badge lucifer was her past "in nan Olympics and astir apt successful charismatic competition".

"I don't deliberation you will spot maine again astatine nan World Cup," she added.

Marta leaves pinch 3 Olympic metallic medals aft 3 defeats by nan USA successful 2004, 2008 and 2024.

She has ne'er won a awesome world trophy pinch Brazil, but goes down arsenic "the champion successful history" according to Brazil leader Arthur Elias.

"We are each very proud of our nationalist squad and our number 10, our queen, Marta," he added.

Marta's Olympics successful Paris looked to person ended successful bitter disappointment erstwhile she was sent disconnected successful tears for a vulnerable tackle successful a group-stage conclusion by Spain.

The consecutive reddish paper came pinch a two-match ban, meaning Marta missed matches against France and Spain en way to Saturday's final.

Though she was fixed nan chance for a farewell appearance, Marta couldn't make an effect arsenic a second-half substitute against Emma Hayes' USA.

Elias said his clasp pinch Marta astatine nan full-time whistle was a "goodbye hug", but she plans to instrumentality astir successful immoderate capacity.

"I americium not going to vanish from football," she said. "I americium going to effort to lend someway to this generation, because they are very talented girls and are good alert of what we tin achieve.

"I person spent much than 20 years doing what I emotion most, and playing a athletics that was not ever seen arsenic being for women.

"Now we tin opportunity that it is 1 of nan astir followed sports. Someone had to commencement that process, truthful I consciousness very proud to person contributed and participated successful immoderate measurement truthful that coming group talk overmuch much astir women's football."