As Brazil failed to reach the knockout stage in Australia and New Zealand, Marta’s sixth and final World Cup ended in despair beyond her “worst nightmares.”

Brazil were eliminated from the tournament as their Caribbean opponents made it to the last 16 alongside France following a goalless draw against Jamaica.

In the tournament’s history, Marta’s 17 goals have cemented her legacy as the greatest scorer.

Brazil’s early exit was a dark moment for her, but she held out hope for the future.

Marta said it was difficult to talk at such a time.

The World Cup I dreamed of wasn’t even in my worst nightmares. However, it’s just the beginning, because the Brazilian people are asking for renewal.

Most of them [her team-mates] are young girls with tremendous talent, it’s just the beginning for them.”

As far as Marta is concerned, she is done with the World Cup.

Marta will always be regarded as one of the most revered players in the women’s game.

As she said on the eve of the Jamaica match, “There were no idols in women’s football when I started playing.”

If you didn’t show women’s football, how could I understand that I would reach the national team and become a reference point?”

Although Marta didn’t lead Brazil to a World Cup victory in 2003, they reached the final in 2007, losing to Germany. Silver medals in 2004 and 2008 extended her country’s near-misses at the Olympics.

It was twenty years ago that no one knew who Marta was at my first World Cup. Now we are a reference for many women all over the world, not just in football,” Marta said.

According to Brazil’s federation, Marta scored 122 international goals in 189 matches. Over 23 years, she has played for 11 clubs in South America, North America, and Europe, winning six World Player of the Year awards.

In 2009, she won the Copa Libertadores – the South American equivalent of the Champions League – with Santos. She now represents Orlando Pride.

Her most successful spells were in Sweden, where she won the league title with Umea IK in four consecutive seasons from 2005 to 2008, Tyreso FF in 2012, and FC Rosengard in 2014 and 2015.

A tribute was paid by Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, while she was working for ITV.