The first-ever FIFA Marta Award, introduced to recognise the best goal in women’s football, has been won by the icon after whom the honour was named.
The 38-year-old Brazil legend, named the leading women’s player by FIFA on a record six occasions, earned the votes of fans and experts with a stunning solo effort in June of this year.
Two weeks before the curtain came down on her extraordinary international career after the Paris Olympics, she scored the final two of her 119 international goals and both were fabulous strikes; one a dipping free-kick and this a blast from a tight angle, between defenders, at the top of the box. That was after she’d left another opponent in her wake in a surging run to find the space for the shot; all hallmarks of one of the greats of the game.
Marta’s magnificent effort was nominated alongside ten others and edged out goals by Asisat Oshoala and Sakina Karchaoui , who finished with 20 and 16 scoring points respectively to the Brazilian’s 22.
The FIFA Marta Award recognises the most spectacular goal in women’s football across the qualification period for the prize, which was between 21 August 2023 and 10 August 2024.
How the FIFA Marta Award winner was determined
From an initial 11-goal shortlist, the two voting groups – fans and a panel of FIFA Legends – voted for their first, second and third choices for the prize.
Points were given to nominees depending on where they were placed (five points for first, three for second and one for third).
Selections from the two voting groups each counted for 50 per cent of the total vote, irrespective of the number of voters from each group.
The Marta Award was presented to the individual with the most points.
The voting procedure for the Marta Award was supervised by independent observers.