Marta, Sinclair and Rapinoe among the generational talents retiring after Women’s World Cup
Generational talents Marta, Christine Sinclair and Megan Rapinoe have all played in their final Women’s World Cup and are leaving the game in a much different place than when they started.
Joining them in the group of players ending their international careers is Estefania Banini of Argentina, who said it’s time to make way for younger players. Caroline Seger of Sweden is still playing in the tournament, but she has already said that it will be her last.
“It’s emotional. Those are some of the greatest football players of all time, players that I’ve looked up to,” said United States captain Lindsey Horan as her eyes filled with tears. “Pinoe, Sinc, both of them I got to play with. Marta, one of the GOATs. It’s hard as a football player to see these guys exiting like this, but look at how much they did for women’s football. Them on the field, their character, everything. They’re the reason we’re all here today.” Marta, the Brazilian player once dubbed “Pele in Skirts” by the legendary Pele himself, raised the profile of women’s soccer in her home country with her dazzling play that she learned from boys on the streets of Dois Riachos.
The 37-year-old was tearful when Brazil was surprisingly eliminated from the tournament in the group stage. It was her sixth World Cup and she fell short of becoming the first player — male or female — to score in all six.
At the team’s final match she looked across the field at young teammates Laurinha and Bruninha, and realized that there’s more work to be done for the Brazilian national team.
“Women’s football doesn’t end here. Women’s football in Brazil doesn’t end here. We need to understand this,” she said.
Marta has scored 115 goals for Brazil, including a record 17 goals at the World
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