Marta Vieira da Silva quietly won the women’s player of the year award while all the networks hailed Kaka, her countryman’s achievements.
In all the hoopla about beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi, we forget that this diminutive woman has made Brazil into a force to reckon with in women’s international soccer, eclipsing traditional powerhouses like the USA and Norway.
She scored seven goals in Brazil’s march to the World Cup finals and is the top scorer for the Swedish club, Umea IK as they win the 2007Damallsvenskan title on the strength of her 20+ goals. In October there were rumours that she would join the LA Galaxy becoming the first woman to play professionally in a men’s league.
So Marta, we salute ye!