THE NIGHT MARTA BECAME THE GREATEST TALENT IN THE WOMEN’S GAME

It happened to be the 2007 Women's World Cup, and Marta Vieira da Silva delivered the kind of virtuoso performance that would cement her place as the greatest exponent in the history of the women's game. Brazil would win 4-0. The player known simply as Marta would also provide that extra-special goal, fulfilling Pelé's ambition.

By the time the 2007 Women's international Cup rolled around, the player Pelé had dubbed 'Pelé in skirts' was already an international star. She became a national hero earlier that year when Brazil won the Pan American Games in front of 68,000 fans at Rio's Estádio do Maracana.

Her role to the triumph was deemed so important that a concrete cast of her foot was made and exhibited at the stadium. Her finest moment as the lone woman in the history of the Brazilian game was still to come.

The Women's World Cup was held in China in early October of the same year. Brazil cruised through the group stage, winning all three games, and Marta netted four times to demonstrate her form. She scored again in the Seleço's 3-2 triumph over Australia in the last eight, advancing the team to the semi-finals against the United States.

Her role to the triumph was deemed so important that a concrete cast of her foot was made and exhibited at the stadium. Her finest moment as the lone woman in the history of the Brazilian game was still to come.

The Women's World Cup was held in China in early October of the same year. Brazil cruised through the group stage, winning all three games, and Marta netted four times to demonstrate her form. She scored again in the Seleço's 3-2 triumph over Australia in the last eight, advancing the team to the semi-finals against the United States.

Marta swayed one way and then the other as she skipped past challenges, the number 10 dancing on the back of her jersey to propel her team onward. Brazil received their reward in the 20th minute. Of course, Marta was involved in the action, but the goal was undeniably fortunate.

Marta swung in a dangerous corner from the left, and as American defender Leslie Osborne stooped to clear the viciously dipping cross, she only succeeded in redirecting the ball beyond her own goalkeeper, putting Brazil ahead. Despite the good fortune involved in the opening strike, any dependence on the whims of fate was then discarded as Marta grabbed complete control of the game.

Seven minutes later, with confidence flowing through the Brazil team, she added the second goal. She simply sprinted past defenders as they trailed in her wake, cutting in from the right. Then, cutting inside, she meandered across the penalty area before driving left-footed inside the near post, past Tina Ellertson in the American goal, whose flailing touch on the ball couldn't keep it out. It was the blow of a player who knew the stage was hers to take and that she had the upper hand on her opponents that night. To all intents and purposes, the game was over, but Marta had plenty of tricks and skills to show off.

She had the fans cheering with anticipation each time she took possession of the ball for the next half-hour or so, either side of the half-time break. Deceptive bursts of speed, sashaying runs, and mesmerizing dribbles connecting up with her teammates had the Americans admitting they were second fiddle to a brilliant performance of the greatest order.

She drove into the American half from the left this time, opponents trailing grabbing at thin air. She attracted the surviving defenders like moths to a flame. She was lit enough while running to see coworker Cristiane dashing into the space that her run had created.

A ball was played to Marta on the left with about a dozen minutes remaining. It was at a tough height, but she back-heeled it past her marker, surged clear of the befuddled opponent to collect, dropped a shoulder to send another defender spinning off balance, and fired home. For good measure, game, set, match, and signature goal.

Brazil would go on to lose the final 2-0 to Germany, with Marta failing to convert a penalty that would have tied the game. It would be a tiny consolation if she finished as both the tournament's leading scorer and its outstanding player.