VALENCIENNES, FRANCE - JUNE 18: Marta of Brazil Women celebrates 0-1 with Leticia Santos of Brazil ... [+]
Following Brazil’s exit from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Brazilian forward and legend Marta Vieira da Silva delivered a passionate message to the next generation.
"This is what I ask of all Brazilian girls," she said. "The future of women's football is depending on you to survive. It's wanting it more. It's taking care of yourself more. It's training more. It's being ready to play 90 minutes and able to play 30 minutes more.”
Speaking on the field with tears in her eyes, Marta added: "There's not going to be a Formiga forever, there's not going to be a Marta forever, there's not going to be a Cristiane. Think about what I'm saying. Cry at the beginning so you can smile at the end."
As the six-time world player of the year, Marta has scored in five separate World Cups and holds the record as the all-time leading goal scorer in tournament history (men’s or women’s). But despite all of her individual achievements, what she has vocally pushed for is women’s empowerment and equality football.
"We are trying to represent women and show how women can play any type of role," Marta said after scoring her record-breaking World Cup goal against Italy. "All the teams here, we are all representing [women]. Let me be clear, this is not only in sport.
After fighting for equality across the board, perhaps Marta’s vocal stance is finally paying off.
On Wednesday, in addition to announcing the hiring the two new Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) women's football coordinators, Duda Luizelli and Aline Pellegrino, President Rogério Caboclo announced it will pay women and men the same amount for representing the Brazilian national teams.
“Since March of this year, CBF has made an equal value in terms of prizes and daily rates between men's and women's football. That is, the players earn the same thing as the players during the calls. What they receive by daily call, women also receive. What they will gain by conquering or by staging the Olympics next year will be the same as the men will have,” said Caboclo.
"What men will receive at the next World Cup will be proportionally equal to what is proposed by FIFA. There is no more gender difference, as the CBF is treating men and women equally," he said.
While the U.S. women’s national team continues its fight for equal pay, Australia, Norway, New Zealand, and now Brazil are among a growing list of nations that have committed to equal pay.
