According to reports, the 39-year-old player will join the national team camp alongside other stars of the American professional women’s football league, both current and former, such as Debinha, Caroline, Lorna, Angelina, and Tarciane. The Seleção will play two friendlies against Japan and two against Jamaica in Brazil at the end of May and early June.

Marta had previously announced in April 2024 that she intended to end one of the most iconic international playing careers in women’s football history. The six-time FIFA World Player of the Year also won her third Olympic silver medal last summer in Paris, a tournament many believed would be her last appearance in the famous yellow jersey of Brazil. But now, Marta will wear the jersey once again and, if she plays in all four upcoming matches, will increase her number of international caps.

More than 365 days have passed since this player announced that she would retire from international football at the end of 2024, but she still shone at the Paris Olympics. Her dramatic red card against Spain in the group stage united Brazil even more to secure another match for Marta—a mission that was successful, although Brazil lost 1-0 to the USA in the final at Parc des Princes and missed out on the gold medal.

And who can really argue with what happened next? Marta’s club team, Orlando Pride, was unbeaten before the Olympic break, and Marta herself played a vital role in winning the league title and the NWSL Championship. She scored 11 goals, the most by any midfielder that season, and has already scored three goals this season.

Marta has said in interviews that playing alongside young stars like Barbra Banda, Orlando Pride’s forward and Zambian international, has kept her young, and she undoubtedly enjoys the progress of Brazilian players in the American league and other leagues around the world. It is still too early to speculate about the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in Brazil itself, but this re-invitation to the national team is inspiring and noteworthy in itself. Resisting the temptation to retire is one thing; making a symbolic return as a tribute is another. But Marta has now chosen a new path, and this re-invitation is entirely deserved.