Marta Exits Women’s World Cup in Emotional Scenes After Reggae Girlz Stun Brazil: Video

• Marta featured in her sixth and last World Cup as Brazil were eliminated by Jamaica
• The Reggae Girlz held on for a draw to create a piece of their own history in Australia
• Marta might have failed in her pursuit of winning the World Cup, but she leaves behind a rich legacy

If you were to write a piece on women's football and the figureheads who have changed how the game is viewed, Marta would feature prominently.

Few women have excelled and shone on the grandest of stages repeatedly, constantly questioning the status quo and defying the odds as Marta has.

She has bagged the FIFA World Player of the Year six times, with her latest triumph coming in 2018. The 2023 Women's World Cup was supposed to be her swansong. At 37 years old and with the constant injury issues she has had of late, it was time to call it quits on her international journey.

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"Let's do it for Marta"

Prior to kick-off Down Under, the 23 members of Pia Sundhage's squad were vocal about what they wanted - to win the World Cup for Marta. For all her successes over the years, the closest Marta had ever come to winning the biggest trophy of them all was in 2007 when she was on the losing side to Germany in the final.

On paper, Sundhage's team had all the ammunition to challenge for the trophy on August 20. Fresh from winning the Copa America and going toe-to-toe with European Champions England in the Women's Finalissima, the Selecao looked like favourites among other heavy hitters like the USA, Sweden, and England.

Their opening game against Panama reinforced this hope as they tore apart the debutants with slick passing and sublime goals. This hope, however, faded away in their second game as France left it late to beat them.

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Reggae Girlz stun Brazil

With their tournament on the line, the hope was officially killed and buried when they failed to break down a resilient Jamaican side. The Reggae Girlz hung on for a goalless draw to become the first Caribbean nation to qualify for the Women's World Cup knockout stage.

What wasn't supposed to happen, happened. Marta, in her final-ever World Cup appearance, was knocked out in the group stage.

Shellshocked by what had just happened and with cameras panning and zooming in on her, Marta remained rooted in her seat, fighting back tears as it sunk into her and the rest of the world: this was the last time she will ever grace this competition.

Marta's moment with Khadija Shaw

As much as they were beyond the moon with their achievement, Lorne Donaldson's girls remained alive to the fact that the legendary Brazilian fought to have the game where it was today. One by one, they trooped to her, offered a word of consolation, a hug here and handshake there, but none was as significant as the moment she shared with Khadija Shaw.

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In what has been viewed as the passing on of the torch from one great player to another, Marta looked straight into Shaw's eyes, arms around her, as she mumbled a few words to the Manchester City striker. What she said to her remains a mystery, but the Jamaican captain humbled herself in the presence of greatness and was eager to consume the wisdom from Marta.

Shaw later disclosed that she wanted Marta to know what an inspiration she had been to her, and the rest of the girls in the world.

Goodbyes are never meant to be easy, but no one thought that Marta's would come this early. This was the first time in 28 years that Brazil have exited the World Cup in the group stage.

Marta's message to fans

By her own admission, Marta revealed that not even in her worst nightmares did she see her international career ending like this. She signed out with a message of hope to Brazilians.

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"I want people in Brazil to continue to have the same enthusiasm they had when the World Cup started. To continue to support. Because things don't happen overnight. I'm very happy with all that has been happening in women's football in Brazil and in the world. Keep supporting," she said, as quoted by NPR.

The good news is that she will keep playing club football for her National Women's Super League side, Orlando Pride, but after the World Cup happenings, there is a good chance that she might not continue playing for long.

Marta played her first World Cup aged 17, became the first player, male or female, to score in five World Cups, and at 37, she leaves the stage as the World Cup's all-time top scorer, men's or women's, with 17 goals.

She came, she saw, she inspired, she left a legend.

Obrigada, Marta!