Best 5 Female Footballers From Brazil

Brazil is known to be the land of football that has blessed the world with some extraordinary talent. However, when it comes to women’s football the world is hesitant to give a chance to them display their football skills forefront. There was a period from 1941 to 1979 when women’s football was banned in Brazil and it wasn’t until 1986 that the women’s national football team played their first game. This biased environment didn’t stop the women from stepping into the ground and making history. It’s impossible to stop the Brazilian folks from playing football be it men or women. Here’s our take on the top 5 Brazilian female footballers that have taken the reins of the football world to make a name for themselves and also help their nation.

 

 

1: Marta Silva

Arguably the best in women’s football, Marta Vieira da Silva, is one of the most successful soccer players in the modern era. She has broken the barrier of men-women compulsions and proved to be the master in what she does. Representing both the women’s national team and Orlando Pride for the league, she’s been breaking records like she’s meant to. Marta holds the world record for the most goals scored regardless of gender in the FIFA World Cup, at 17. She is the record holder for Brazil’s best goal scorer at 112 goals. Marta is the only female footballer to play in 5 consecutive Olympic Games and was the first footballer (men or women) to score at five World Cups. She has been very vocal about the trials and tribulations women have to face in any working sphere. Even Rio de Janeiro declared that February 19 shall be celebrated as Women’s Football Day in the state in recognition of Marta’s contribution to the sport. Hands down she is the best female footballer of this generation if not of all time.

2: Formiga

One of the greatest contributors to women’s football is Miraildes Maciel Mota nicknamed Formiga. This legendary player is Brazil’s most capped player who has recently retired in the month of December 2021 and bringing an end to a marvellous career which includes 7 World cups and Olympic games. She is the iconic veteran midfielder who has completed every version of the Olympic women’s football tournament which began in 1996 and also holds the record for the oldest goal scorer at a women’s World Cup which Brazil’s team played against South Korea in the 2015 tournament at the age of 37. She had witnessed the rapid growth of women’s football throughout her career, mentoring some of the greatest players in the history of women’s football like Marta Silva. We can also say that she was the heart of the Brazilian team providing experience and support to all the other players.

3: Christiane Rozeira 

Christiane is a prolific forward who plays for Santos and the Brazilian women’s national team. She is the all-type leading goal scorer in the Olympic games both among men and women. At the club level, she has played professionally in France, Germany, Sweden, the USA, Russia and South Korea as well as in her native country Brazil. She became the oldest player in world cup history to record a hat-trick. Her tackling and dribbling skills are legendary in themselves. Her striking capability with efficient left footwork is tremendous and she is a world-class player who is the 6th on the list of the women’s World Cup top goalscorers ever. She has been through 5 women’s World Cups and in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 with a total of 11 goals.

4: Sissi 

Hailing from the state of Bahia in the late 1990s before Marta emerged as a world-class football legend Sisleide Lima do Amor was named the queen of Brazilian football. Nicknamed Sissi, first shined in her career at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the USA in 1999. The excellent midfielder’s wonder strike was the talk of the town then which took Brazil through to the semifinals. She has defied the stereotype of football being only a men’s game and shows the world that women can play even on a football field. She won the golden boot award in the 1999 Women’s World Cup, scoring 7 goals and sharing the awards with China’s Sun Wen. In 2008 Sissi was announced as the new assistant coach for the Bay Area Women’s Professional Soccer team, ultimately known as FC Gold Pride and she currently coaches at Solano Community College in California. Sissi was a gifted as well as a hard-working icon in the Brazilian Women’s Football sphere and an inspiration to many women who are victims of different stereotypes.

5: Debinha

 

Débora Cristine de Oliveira, simply known as Debinha, is seen stepping into the role of Marta for Brazil’s women’s team. Her footwork and her skills on and off the ball Debinha a star. She has become a pillar for Brazil’s women’s football team, earning her 100th cap in February 2021. She got over 30 international goals and represented Brazil at the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Debinha has plenty of technique and can almost score from anywhere in and around the penalty area with an excellent unique movement. Her ability does not stop at only creating bases for her teammates but also she can pick out perfect passes for the team.

Women’s football and its gradual growth in Brazil shows the hunger, as well as the multifaceted potential women, have in any field even if it is football. The Brazilian women footballers’ sheer zeal and achievements in the football world have brought them from a stage where women’s football was totally banned in Brazil to a stage where they now receive equal pay and respect. Football as a game has brought a revolution and continues to do so and we hope to witness it in the coming future.