Less than two weeks removed from blowing out the candles and celebrating her 38th birthday, Marta, one of the most influential and decorated players in women’s soccer history, was back on the pitch whipping crosses to her teammates in search of a breakthrough and arguing with referees for fouls and yellow cards.
As Orlando Pride midfielder Summer Yates would tell you, Marta is extremely passionate and intense on the field. Even if it’s during a closed-doors preseason scrimmage in March at home against the Florida State Seminoles, the reigning 2023 NCAA champions, with a roster that featured some teenagers that may one day become stars of the NWSL.
“She’s over here, like, ‘Whoa, that’s a card. That’s a foul,'” Yates recalled. “Just crazy, and we’re like, ‘OK, this is a preseason [game].’ But we know we need to step up. We need to have that same drive that she does.”
It has been a special year for Marta, as she had the opportunity to finish her Olympic career with a silver medal after an inspired Brazil team without her services defeated Spain to reach the final against the United States. Back in Orlando, she’s in the final year of her contract with the Orlando Pride and preparing for Saturday’s NWSL…
