Marta Marta

Sport: Soccer

Nation: Brazil

DOB: February 19, 1986

Hometown: Dois Riachos

Career Highlights: One of the best players in the world, Marta has scored 80 goals in 72 games for Brazil. Her playmaking and scoring abilities - along with wearing the No. 10 jersey - have lead to comparisons to the legendary Pele. Marta won the FIFA World Player of the Year award a record five straight times from 2006-10, while coming in second on two other occasions. Despite her astounding personal achievements, Marta and Brazil have often fallen just short of team glory. The squad managed a pair of silvers at the last two Olympics, losing out on gold to the United States each time. Similarly, the Brazilians' best finish at the World Cup was second place in 2007. In last year's tournament, Marta had four goals, but Brazil was eliminated on penalties by the U.S. Outside of the national team, she spent three years playing in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) with Los Angeles, FC Gold Pride and Western New York, where she led the latter two to league championships. She also led WPS in scoring each of its three seasons before folding, at which point she signed with Tyreso FF in Sweden. If Brazil is going to have any success at the Olympics, Marta will no doubt be at the center of it.

Olympic History: 2008,2004