“It’s about striving for more. It’s about training harder. It’s about prioritizing your well-being. It’s about being ready for 90 plus 30 minutes of play. This is what I expect from the girls. Time is limited; we won’t always have Formiga, Marta, or Cristiane. The future of women’s football relies on your efforts to persist. Consider that. Appreciate it more. Shed some tears in the beginning to earn a smile at the end.”
In June 2019, Marta, captain of Brazil and a true pioneer, stood in despair on the sidelines of a pitch in Le Havre. After Brazil faced an early exit from the World Cup, losing in extra time to the host nation France in the round of 16, she delivered a heartfelt speech to inspire the upcoming generations of athletes, drawing global attention.
Fast forward five years and nearly 500 miles south, the cameras captured Marta once again. This time it was tears of joy as she saw her nation’s new generation rise against the odds, reaching their first major final since 2008. Though her captaincy position kept her in the stands, Brazil showcased their prowess by defeating the world champions, Spain, 4-2 to secure a place in the Olympic final against the USA in Paris.
Just a week prior, it seemed that Marta’s illustrious international career might have come to a heartbreaking conclusion after she reached 201 caps. In a tense group-stage encounter against Spain, she was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Olga Carmona deep into first-half injury time. The realization of this possibly being her last international contribution was etched across the Brazilian’s face, and it felt painfully slow to unfold.
Marta’s despair after being sent off against Spain. Photograph: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
However, Marta now has a team of players she can count on. Despite facing significant injury challenges, they have fought valiantly to reach the gold medal match. Arthur Elias’s squad has shown tenacity during this tournament, narrowly overcoming two group-stage losses against Spain and Japan. They progressed as the second-best third-placed team and have gained confidence by defeating both France and Spain, ensuring their captain could make a return for one last game and secure at least a silver medal.
Brazil showcased their skills in the semi-final, outperforming a team many predicted would win the tournament. Despite injuries and fatigue that have taken a toll on every team in the competition, Brazil could have significantly increased their winning margin against a disorganized opponent.
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Following a World Cup victory, securing an Olympic gold is known to be a formidable challenge—one that has never been accomplished even during the USA’s peak periods. Spain has appeared fatigued and vulnerable, illustrating the demanding nature of this tournament and the extensive football they’ve played over the preceding two years. Champions can salvage wins for only a limited time, and there are growing concerns that Montse Tomé’s team has not been performing at their best for a while. Recent setbacks against Italy and the Czech Republic during the past year have been overshadowed by Nations League success and Euro 2025 qualification, hinting at possible chinks in their seemingly unbreakable armor.
This Olympic journey has been arduous, marked by a rigorous schedule that compressed matches into every three days, resulting in four out of six knockout games extending into extra time. Both Brazil and the USA have advanced largely through pure determination, digging deeper into their stamina reserves than their rivals.
Emma Hayes has expertly led the USA back to a major final for the first time since their triumph in France in 2019—a remarkable achievement for someone who has held the position for merely two months. Nevertheless, they appear to be pushing through sheer exhaustion. After Sophia Smith sprinted to net the winner against Germany in extra time, she fell to her knees, confessing to the media that she lacked the energy to celebrate.
Emma Hayes amidst US celebrations following the semi-final victory over Germany. Photograph: Silvia Izquierdo/AP
The evident fatigue and increasing list of injuries have reignited discussions about the format of the Olympic tournament. Possible solutions might include either significant changes or minor adjustments. Expanding squad sizes (the current cap of 18 players plus four substitutes is inadequate) and instituting instant penalty shootouts for knockout matches are sensible modifications that could alleviate the strain and reduce the risk of injuries.
For now, however, all attention is directed toward the final showdown in Paris on Saturday. While fairytales are seldom a reality in football, this clash holds the potential for the creation of two remarkable narratives. Will it signify the golden goodbye of one of the sport’s greatest women players? Or will it mark the perfect beginning for a manager at the outset of her journey in international coaching?
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