Marta Vieira da Silva’s story is set to reach the screen in a new biopic, starring actor Alice Carvalho and directed by Andrucha Waddington, who also directed the Vinicius Junior documentary.
With filming now underway ahead of its planned 2027 release, the film will bring to life the remarkable journey of one of football’s greatest players. Marta’s story speaks for itself: from a young girl in Brazil fighting for the opportunity to play the game she loved, to becoming one of the most decorated footballers in the sport’s history.
Born at a time when women’s football in Brazil was still rebuilding after a 38-year ban was lifted in 1979, Marta was exposed from an early age to the challenges facing the women’s game.
Growing up in poverty in Dois Riachos, in the Brazilian state of Alagoas, she began playing football barefoot on dirt pitches at just seven years old. Often the only girl playing alongside boys, Marta faced criticism and exclusion because of her gender, with teams refusing to play against her before eventually removing her from a tournament that became boys-only.
At 14, Marta took the first major step towards changing her future. Leaving her hometown of Dois Riachos, she travelled to Rio de Janeiro for a trial with Vasco da Gama’s women’s team. Arriving without the traditional signs of a footballer with no boots or kit, Marta just let her ability speak for itself.
In 2002, she was invited into Brazil’s national youth setup and made her tournament debut at the Under-20 World Cup a year later, but the same year also brought another reminder of the challenges surrounding women’s football in Brazil when Vasco’s women’s team folded. It was the first of many occasions where Marta would experience the instability of the structures supporting the women’s game.
Her career changed direction in 2004 when she moved to Sweden to join Umeå. The move made Marta the first Brazilian women’s player to play outside Brazil and introduced her to a football environment where the women’s game had a stronger structure and greater support. In her first season, she scored 22 goals, helped Umeå win the UEFA Women’s Cup and quickly established herself as one of the most exciting players in the world.
Marta’s performances soon earned global recognition. She won the FIFA World Player of the Year award five consecutive times between 2006 and 2010, before winning again in 2018, cementing her place among football’s greatest players. She also became the leading scorer in Women’s World Cup history, with 17 goals across the tournament.
Yet Marta’s legacy extends far beyond the records and trophies. Her success helped change perceptions of what was possible for women in football, particularly in Brazil, where she became a symbol for generations of girls who wanted to play the game. When she returned to Dois Riachos after winning her first FIFA World Player award, she was celebrated by the community that had once watched her fight for the chance to play.
Her influence continued to break boundaries. In 2008, Marta became the first woman to play in a FIFA-sanctioned men’s charity match, joining football legends including Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazário in the Match Against Poverty in Morocco.
The upcoming biopic will explore both sides of Marta’s journey, following the player who became one of the most decorated footballers in history and the girl from Alagoas who had to overcome barriers just to be allowed to play.
