Nicknamed "Pele in a skirt" by the late football great himself, the Brazilian star better known to fans as "Queen Marta" has her last shot at winning the Women's World Cup at this year's tournament.
The 37-year-old has confirmed this will "undoubtedly" be her last appearance at the World Cup in an interview with YouTube channel CazeTV just before coach Pia Sundhage announced her squad.
Yet Brazil's chances of sending her off with a first world crown look slim, with Marta battling injury in the twilight of her career and the team at a generational crossroads.
"It is to be expected that I am not the Marta of 20 years ago but physically I feel good and mentally I am even better," she insisted.
Marta has however spent a lifetime overcoming obstacles, from a childhood of poverty to sexism and, more recently, the worst injury of her career.
Arguably the best female player of all time, she has come agonisingly close to international glory with the "Selecao", making it to the World Cup final in 2007 and picking up silver medals in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
She is the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cups – men's or women's – with 17 in five editions, one better than Germany's Miroslav Klose.
She will now get a chance to extend that record.
- Nearly year-long absence -
Marta will be without two of her veteran companions.
Fellow legend Formiga retired from the national team in 2021 after seven World Cups, while forward Cristiane, 38, was not selected.
Marta herself spent nearly a year away from the pitch with a serious knee injury.
The three-time Copa America winner (2003, 2010 and 2018) missed that competition last year, when Brazil successfully defended their title.
She returned only in February, for Brazil's 1-0 win over
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