<p>The debate among fans, players, and everyone involved in the world of soccer has been going on for years. There’s still no unanimous answer to the question of who the greatest player of all time is. The usual names that dominate the conversation include <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a>, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, and Pelé</strong>. However, other legendary players often enter the discussion as well.</p>



<p>Icons like <strong>Carlos Valderrama, Marco van Basten</strong>, and <strong>Paolo Maldini</strong> have shared their opinions. But recently, another legend joined the conversation: <strong>Marta</strong>, the Brazilian forward who stole the show in the <strong>Women’s Copa América final against Colombia</strong>, where she scored twice.</p>



<p>The player from Dois Riachos didn’t pick Messi or her fellow countryman Pelé, who famously won three World Cups with Brazil. Instead, in a 2017 interview with FIFA’s official website, Marta named <strong>Ronaldo</strong> as her all-time favorite.</p>



<p>At first, she simply said <em>“<strong>Ronaldo,”</strong></em> but quickly clarified to avoid confusion with the Portuguese superstar. <em><strong>“Since the question is about ‘all time,’ the answer is Ronaldo, O Fenômeno.”</strong></em> Still, she had nothing but praise for <strong>Cristiano Ronaldo</strong> as well.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250803_WST_582410_Marta-1200x675_d13b7c5b.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-582414" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174532/Marta-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174532/Marta-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174532/Marta-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174532/Marta-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174532/Marta-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174532/Marta-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174532/Marta-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174532/Marta.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>She said that Cristiano is her favorite current player because of his incredible goal-scoring ability. She explained that she tries to learn from watching him, saying that she admires his playing style and uses it as inspiration on the field.</p>


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<h3>Ronaldo Nazário’s trophy cabinet</h3>



<p><strong>Cruzeiro</strong></p>



<ul><li>Copa do Brasil: 1993</li><li>Campeonato Mineiro: 1994</li></ul>



<p><strong>Corinthians</strong></p>



<ul><li>Campeonato Paulista: 2009</li><li>Copa do Brasil: 2009</li></ul>



<p><strong>PSV Eindhoven</strong></p>



<ul><li>KNVB Cup: 1995–96</li><li>Johan Cruyff Shield: 1996</li></ul>



<p><strong>Barcelona</strong></p>



<ul><li>Copa del Rey: 1996–97</li><li>Supercopa de España: 1996</li><li>UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup: 1996–97</li></ul>



<p><strong>Inter Milan</strong></p>



<ul><li>UEFA Cup: 1997–98</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250803_WST_582410_Ronaldo-Nazario-1200x675_5902522f.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-582415" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174637/Ronaldo-Nazario-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174637/Ronaldo-Nazario-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174637/Ronaldo-Nazario-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174637/Ronaldo-Nazario-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174637/Ronaldo-Nazario-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174637/Ronaldo-Nazario-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174637/Ronaldo-Nazario-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/03174637/Ronaldo-Nazario.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p><strong>Real Madrid</strong></p>



<ul><li>La Liga: 2002–03, 2006–07</li><li>Supercopa de España: 2003</li><li>Intercontinental Cup: 2002</li></ul>



<p><strong>Brazil National Team</strong></p>



<ul><li>FIFA World Cup: 1994, 2002</li><li>Olympic Bronze Medal: 1996</li><li>Copa América: 1997, 1999</li><li>FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997</li></ul>

It’s not Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Pelé: Marta reveals who she thinks is the greatest soccer player of all time

It’s not Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Pelé: Marta reveals who she thinks is the greatest soccer player of all time - World Soccer Talk

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<p>Legendary Brazil forward Marta has seen her <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-tv-schedule/">Women’s World Cup</a> career come to an end on Wednesday. The South American nation was bounced out of the competition following a draw against Jamaica. Marta, as well as her teammates, failed to hit the back of the net in the scoreless match. The 37-year-old <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/brazil-legend-marta-reveals-future-ahead-of-womens-world-cup-20230705-WST-441229.html">finishes her tournament career</a> as the leading goalscorer in men’s or women’s World Cup with 17 goals.</p>



<h2>Brazil and Marta out at World Cup group stage for first time in decades</h2>



<p>A six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta is widely considered to be the greatest women’s player of all time. The forward has racked up 115 goals in 174 total games with Brazil. Prior to the matchup with Jamaica, Brazil’s coach Pia Sundhage admitted that she gets emotional being in Marta’s presence. “I knew that she was big, she’s a famous player,” <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38119961/marta-world-cup-career-ends-jamaica-eliminate-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> Sundhage. “[But I] couldn’t even imagine how big she is in Brazil.”</p>



<p>“I get very emotional just being around such a good player. Not only what she’s gonna do tomorrow, but what she’s done for so many years and been a fantastic role model.”</p>



<p>Brazil’s departure from the tournament in Australia comes as a significant shock. It is the first time since 1995 that the team failed to reach the knockout round at a Women’s World Cup. Currently, <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20230609" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FIFA ranks</a> the South Americans No. 8, 35 places above their latest opponents Jamaica.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Jamaica vs. Brazil Highlights | 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2VsCkeJtwOY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h5>Jamaica advances to knockout round for first time</h5>



<p>While Brazil’s collapse is certainly surprising, so is Jamaica’s qualification to the knockout phase. The Reggae Girlz were thought to have little chance of getting beyond the group stage of the tournament. The team even needed to set up a GoFundMe account to even travel to the Women’s World Cup. </p>



<p>Nevertheless, they finished second in a tough Group F behind powerhouse France despite scoring just one goal in the group stage. Jamaica is now the first-ever Caribbean team to qualify for the knockout round of a Women’s World Cup. They will next face either Colombia or Germany in the round of 16.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / AAP</em></p>


Legendary forward Marta has played her final Women's World Cup match of her career after Brazil failed to qualify for the knockout round.

Marta finishes World Cup career as Brazil exits tournament


<p>Brazil star Marta, who will be participating in her sixth <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-tv-schedule/">World Cup</a> this year, has announced that it will be her last. At 37 years old, Marta wants to focus on other aspects of her life. The Seleção, coached by Pia Sundhage, are in Group F at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, alongside Panama, France and Jamaica.</p>



<p>Marta, who was named to the team last week, will be one of the oldest players featured in the tournament. After making her debut at the World Cup in the United States in 2003 at the age of 17, she has been a mainstay of the national squad ever since.</p>



<p>Her World Cup career includes goals in each of the five previous tournaments she played in. The highlight was in 2007. In that tournament, her seven goals led the tournament, as Brazil reached the Final, only losing to Germany, 2-0. She won the Player of the Tournament award and scored <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M2K1BuG67E" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one of the greatest goals</a> in Women’s World Cup history. That came in a 4-0 thrashing of the United States in the semifinals. In total, Marta scored 17 goals combined in her World Cup experience.</p>



<h5>Star confirms last World Cup APPEARANCE</h5>



<p>As she will be 41 years old by the time of the following World Cup in 2027, she told local reporters in Brasilia that this year’s would be her last one.</p>



<p>“Yes, it will be my last World Cup. We have to understand that a time comes for us to prioritize other things. I just have to be thankful to have lived all those years in the national team. To have the opportunity to go to another World Cup, a sixth one, for me is something surreal.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Football star Marta Vieira da Silva has made it on Brazil’s team for what will be her sixth, and likely last, World Cup appearance.<br><br>Al Jazeera’s Gemma Nash has the backstory on this football great ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/0A1K6OHtuY">pic.twitter.com/0A1K6OHtuY</a></p>— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJE_Sport/status/1674266443863687171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Marta making history with Brazil at Women’s World Cup</h2>



<p>In the world of women’s soccer, Marta is a legend, particularly in her home country of Brazil. Soccer is a huge part of Brazilian culture and together with Cristiane and Formiga, she helped to revolutionize the women’s game in the country.</p>



<p>When it comes to the men’s World Cup, Brazil holds the record with five victories; the women’s team, however, has yet to do so. With this being her last competition, Marta will attempt to make history by winning the title after five unsuccessful tries.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Plus</em></p>



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Legendary Brazil forward Marta, who will be participating in her sixth World Cup, has said that this year's edition will be her last.

Brazil legend Marta reveals future ahead of Women's World Cup

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It’s not Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Pelé: Marta reveals who she thinks is the greatest soccer player of all time

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Marta finishes World Cup career as Brazil exits tournament

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Brazil legend Marta reveals future ahead of Women's World Cup