Marta Signs New Deal With Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride have announced that Marta has agreed to a new contract to extend her stay in the NWSL, keeping the Brazilian icon at the club for the 2020 season at least.

Marta will turn 34 before the new campaign begins next year, but the veteran is still widely revered as one of the best players in the world. During the summer she set the all-time World Cup goals record–men's and women's–and won Best FIFA Women’s Player as recently as 2018.

The Pride did not disclose the length or terms of the contract, but head coach Marc Skinner has described the news as "wonderful for the club and fans."

“Marta is effervescent - nothing compares to the experience and passion she brings to our roster and I think this year she showed just how much she gives to this team,” he told the club’s official website.

Indeed, Marta made global headlines this summer when she gave an impassioned speech urging young girls back home to play football and preserve the future of the national team after Brazil were eliminated from the World Cup.

Skinner added: “Everyone knows the quality that she possesses on the field, which we are of course thrilled to have back, but having the leadership and mentoring abilities of the greatest player to play the game will be critical to the continued growth of the Orlando Pride.”

Having enjoyed most of her club success in Sweden, Marta joined the Pride in 2017. This season was a difficult one for both the player and the club, with Marta failing to find the net until after her return from the World Cup and the Pride finishing last in the regular season standings. There will, however, now be renewed optimism for next year.

The Pride will need Marta, as they'll be without Alex Morgan for at least some of the 2020 season. The USWNT co-captain announced her pregnancy this week and is due to give birth in April, although it has been reported that it is her intention to resume playing in time to make the Olympic roster in July.

Despite experiencing the ultimate high at the World Cup, 2019 was an unproductive year for Morgan at the club level. She played only six games and failed to score.