Brazilian football legend Marta was left in tears after being sent off during her team’s 2-0 defeat to Spain in the Olympic women’s football tournament.
The red card, issued for a reckless challenge, could potentially end Marta’s illustrious international career on a sour note.
The 38-year-old, who is retiring from international football at the end of the year, is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer and a six-time World Player of the Year.
Despite the setback, Brazil managed to advance to the quarterfinals as one of the best third-placed teams.
Marta’s Olympic journey has been marked by near-misses. She won silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Games, both times losing to the United States.
Her World Cup record is equally impressive, with 17 goals in 23 appearances across six tournaments.
