Amid a at the moment undefeated season with the first-place Orlando Delight and high-profile retirements from Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair, Brazilian celebrity Marta mentioned she plans to play skilled soccer for a minimum of two extra years.
“I don’t know if I’m gonna be in Orlando. However my thought is like, play a minimum of two extra years,” she advised The Athletic. Her present contract with the Delight is up after the 2024 season.
Marta has scored seven targets and recorded two assists in 19 video games this season, and the Delight are seven factors away from second-place Washington Spirit, whom they face on Sunday. In the event that they win, they’ll clinch the NWSL protect, awarded to the group with the best common season level whole.
In 2023, Marta had 4 targets, all from penalties, and performed a extra central attacking midfield place. This season, head coach Seb Hines has moved Marta increased on the sphere to play alongside Barbra Banda.
“To run after Barbra, it’s essential work arduous. It’s worthwhile to be in fine condition,” Marta joked by means of explaining the vitality she has exhibited on the sphere this yr.
This has been a season of revitalization for Marta, who received a silver medal with Brazil on the Olympics in France earlier than retiring from worldwide soccer. “I received’t stroll away from soccer. I wish to assist this technology ultimately,” she mentioned after that sport, which Brazil misplaced 1-0 to the US.
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For membership, and with the Delight season going so nicely, Marta mentioned she was blissful together with her choice to return to Orlando in 2017.
“I really feel good that I made a decision to remain right here for thus lengthy and have to undergo all of those conditions yr by yr,” she mentioned.
“I got here to Orlando as a result of I wish to be near my nation, be near my family and friends, have the ability to see them somewhat bit extra typically. I got here right here, after which I met good folks. The group, it’s wonderful. We now have virtually all people from in all places — Latino, Europe. So I really feel so comfy with this. And I began to visualise my life right here in Orlando not only for one or two years, however for a very long time.”
Since 2017, the Delight have had six head coaches, together with interims, and after Marta’s first yr with the membership, wherein they completed third general, have since by no means completed increased than seventh or certified for playoffs. In 2024, the Delight had been the primary group to mathematically clinch a playoff place, with Marta averaging 78 minutes performed per sport.
“I all the time have in my thoughts that if I put myself on this state of affairs, I have to do the very best,” she mentioned. “I wish to play as a result of I nonetheless have one thing to offer to the group. I nonetheless have the vitality that the group wants for me and the standard that the soccer world asks for… I really feel good.”
After beating Bay FC 1-0 in September, Marta advised the post-match media: “I wish to do extra. I wish to break extra data, it doesn’t matter what, so no one can catch us.”
(Prime photograph: Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Pictures)