Marta

Nov 23 (Reuters) - The Orlando Pride held off the Washington Spirit 1-0 to claim their first NWSL Championship title in Kansas City on Saturday, as Zambian striker Barbra Banda added one more lethal performance to a blockbuster year.

Banda, who had the second-most goals in the regular season with 16, slipped one past two-time NWSL goalkeeper of the year Aubrey Kingsbury in the 37th minute and a stout Orlando defence extinguished Washington's chances.

PURE BANDA-MONIUM!!!

Brazil legend, Marta, scored one of the best goals of the weekend as she sealed Orlando Pride’s ticket to the NWSL final on Sunday.

Marta amazing goal vs. KC Current

The 38-year-old picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch, sped through the defense, left two players in the dust and fooled the goalkeeper to score Orlando’s third and final goal in their 3-1 victory over KC Current. It’s just what legends do.

Marta really just sat down the entire defense.

PARIS — Brazil reached the Olympic women's football final as they claimed a stunning 4-2 win over world champions Spain in Marseille on Tuesday and will face the United States for the gold medal.

Playing their sixth Olympic semi, Brazil capitalized on a number of Spanish defensive mistakes to reach Saturday's final at Parc des Princes where they will seek a maiden title against four-time champions USA.

PARIS — Brazil veteran Marta will miss her team's semi-final against Spain in the Paris Olympics women's soccer tournament later on Tuesday after the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed her two-match suspension.

The 38-year-old, who is her country's all-time leading scorer and will retire from international football this year, had been shown a straight red card in their group loss to Spain on July 31 after a dangerous challenge late in the first half.

¡MARTA ES EXPULSADA!

UPDATE: The USWNT's 2-1 victory vs. Australia means that Brazil advance and will play France in the quarterfinals.

A Marta red card vs Spain during Brazil’s group stage finale in the 2024 Olympics saw the women’s soccer icon exit the field in tears. Spain won the game 2-0.

The 38-year-old is playing in her SIXTH Olympics for Brazil, however it was hardly the fairy tale ending she hoped for. In stoppage time of the first half Marta had a dangerous challenge on Spain’s Olga Carmona.

Brazil's all-time top scorer in both men's and women's football, Marta, will retire from internationals this year, the 38-year-old striker said ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Marta, who has been playing in the United States with Orlando Pride since 2017, hopes to make her sixth appearance at the Olympics at this year's Paris Games.

Marta retiring from national team

Marta announces she will retire from international football at the end of this year.

Miraildes Maciel Mota is known by most Brazilian soccer fans by her nickname: Formiga, meaning "ant" in Portuguese. It is a testament to her tireless work on the pitch and unselfish play — much like the way an ant contributes to its colony.

The all-time leader in goals scored at a World Cup is not Pelé nor Ronaldo — it’s another Brazilian, the timeless Marta. The brilliant No. 10 added a 113th career international goal to her tally on Monday, a stunning free kick that stirred Pelé whilst the elder Brazilian watched from a hospital.