Brazilian international soccer superstar Marta added another trophy to her awards cabinet on Saturday. The 38-year-old midfielder can now add the NWSL Championship to her long list of sporting achievements. An eight-year journey to the title came down to first-seeded Orlando Pride and second-seeded Washington Spirit in the biggest game of the year, and a single goal from Barbra Banda was the difference.
The title is another record for the Pride, along with an undefeated streak, it is the first championship for the city of Orlando. The Florida community will honor the club with a parade on Monday where fans will have the opportunity to celebrate their local team and see Marta uncertain about her next steps. The veteran hinted at uncertainty ahead of the championship final.
“No matter what happens in the final, this season, for me and the team, has been the best so far. Orlando has never played a game as consistent as we have this season from start to finish,” Marta told CBS. as she began to hold back tears.
“Sometimes it’s crazy to find an explanation, like ‘How?’ I think for me it’s special because it’s the answer I try to find every year because since 2017 I’m the only player still on the team and I ask myself: Why am I still looking to do something special here, you know? There was always something crazy in my life. The first time I won. [FIFA World Player of the Year]Of course, I was much younger than I am now, but I did it five times. [in a row]Then he took a break and won it after eight years. It’s been eight years here with Orlando and it’s the first time we’re going to a final. It’s a coincidence, but I don’t know. It’s an answer for me, for me. Why am I still here? Why am I looking to build something special for this team? I don’t know if I’ll be here next year., “but I am already very happy with what I have given to the club and the players.”
So, with questions lingering about where her career will take her, let’s take a look at what could come next for Marta.
Vacation
Someone who always brings fun energy, Marta also flat out said she needed a vacation after this season. Winning is great, but it clearly depletes your stamina and takes everything. It’s always after big games that we discover the aches and pains players overcame to reach their big moments, and Orlando had several of them this year. Basically, the player will take some time off before making important decisions.
Semi-retirement with Brazil
Marta began to step away from the international stage ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Before the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, she announced that it would be her last World Cup appearance, but kept the door open to the Olympic Games with the Summer Games immediately after the World Cup.
After making the Olympic roster with Brazil, he reiterated that the tournament would be his last Olympic Games with Brazil. Perhaps he signaled that his career would come to an end on major world stages, although he has only hinted at international retirement and made no official decision, joking that he almost made the list that he went to Australia to close out the calendar year. .
free agency
Ahead of the 2023 season, Orlando signed Marta to a two-year contract through 2024. It was a key signing that came a month after the Pride promoted Seb Hines from interim to official head coach and signaled the club’s commitment with the long term. -time player who was still rehabilitating from an ACL injury at the time.
Option 1: Return to Orlando
While free agency is still relatively new to the league, Pride and Marta have bounced back together without issues in the past. She has expressed her opinion that the city will become a home for her, her Brazilian community and a place she would like to stay. She and the club are also no strangers to one-year deals with options. It might be the most likely outcome between both sides, but there are always different options for a player in free agency.
Option 2: Other NWSL teams
At 38 years old, casuals would assume the team’s options are limited, but that’s not necessarily the case for Marta. She is coming off her best season in the NWSL with 11 goals scored and the intelligent attacker is also just as effective creating for her teammates.
A club team looking to find value and productivity while landing a big name on a short contract could find themselves in contention for Marta’s services. West Coast teams Angel City FC or San Diego Wave FC come to mind as possible landing spots to extend the Brazilian’s stay in the United States. Bay FC could also be an option as the expansion franchise enters its second season after a quarterfinal appearance and searches for its next big signing.
Option 3: Retirement?
One last option is to simply retire completely, but after a taste of glory, maybe Marta will give it one more chance.
