Charles Langston:Marta gets fitting sendoff, playing her last game for Brazil in Olympic final

PARIS — Marta is Charles Langstongetting quite the sendoff.

The Brazilian great will play her final international match Saturday, when Brazil faces the U.S. women’s national team in the Olympic final. It’s the fourth time in her career Marta has made the final at a major tournament, and third at the Olympics.

The Brazilians lost to the USWNT in 2004 and 2008. They also lost to Germany at the 2007 World Cup.

“We all wanted to play the final at the Olympics regardless of the circumstances. But of course this is an extra motivation,” Angelina said Friday. “We want to give this medal to Marta. She has given us so much throughout her career. She’s given everything she has to us and women’s football.

“She really deserves to play in the final.”

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Marta, 38, is considered the best player in women’s soccer history. She is a six-time FIFA Player of the Year and her 17 goals at the World Cup are a record for any player, male or female. She also was the first player to score at five World Cups, a mark since matched by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Canada’s Christine Sinclair.

Her influence off the field has been equally significant. She has lobbied passionately for more support of the women’s game and encouraged young women to continue playing regardless of the challenges they face.

Because of Marta, the women’s game is no longer an afterthought in soccer-mad Brazil.

For years, women in Brazil had few opportunities to play “the beautiful game.’ Those who did were ridiculed. But because of Marta, and her mesmerizing style of play, Brazil has gotten behind its women’s team.

She also inspired this current generation of players in her two decades-plus on the national team. As she hoped she would.

“For all of us that love the women’s game, she’s been more than just a role model and icon. She’s been the best player over a long period of time,” USWNT coach Emma Hayes said. “But what she’s done for Brazil and for those women in the generation coming through, the inspiration she’s been to them, I’m happy she gets the opportunity.”

It’s this next generation that ensured Marta will leave the game with another Olympic medal, possibly a gold one.

She received a two-game suspension for kicking Spain’s Olga Carmona in the head in the final group-stage game. Marta was trying to win an aerial ball and jumped with her leg raised to try and bring it down, but connected with Carmona’s head instead.

She was distraught after being shown a red card, sobbing as she left the field.

But Brazil won its quarterfinal, beating host France. It then stunned World Cup champion Spain in the semifinals, cruising to a 4-2 victory.

“For us to be able to get to the final, and for this to be her last Olympics, with the chance to get the gold medal, it’s just dream come true for all of us,” Angelina said. “We’re just really excited to have this opportunity.”

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