Brazil star sees red Marta is sent off after kung fu foul and sheds bitter tears

SDA

31.7.2024 - 23:45

Marta sheds tears after being sent off.
Marta sheds tears after being sent off.
Imago

The career of Brazil's exceptional player Marta may end at the Olympic Games in Paris like that of Zinédine Zidane at the 2006 World Cup in Berlin: with a red card.

Keystone-SDA

Although Brazil finished third in their group and qualified for the quarter-finals, Marta is likely to be suspended for at least two matches and would therefore not be available to her team again until the final at the earliest. The 38-year-old striker was completely distraught after being sent off. She left the pitch with tears in her eyes in first-half stoppage time after being shown the red card for a kung-fu kick on Spain's Olga Cardona.

The six-time world player, who had announced her retirement from the national team before the tournament, is taking part in the Olympics for the sixth time. She won silver with Brazil in 2004 and 2008. She is Brazil's record goalscorer and for many years was regarded as one of the biggest stars in women's football.

Canada are also among the quarter-finalists. Despite a six-point deduction for spying on New Zealand's training, the winners of the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games made it through to the knockout round with three wins. This begins on Saturday and promises a lot with the games: USA - Japan, Spain - Colombia, France - Brazil and Canada - Germany.