Thursday, Jul. 24, 2008
23. Marta Vieira da Silva
Soccer
Brazil
Age: 22
Just Marta to you, a single moniker being the mark of Brazil's great footballers. She is also known as Pelé in a skirt. The daughter of a poor family from the scrublands of Brazil's northeast, Marta had to force her brothers and his friends to even let her play the game. Once she made their team, the quick-footed striker was never off it. She signed with Swedish club Umea IK in 2004 and was soon helping Brazil challenge the U.S. and Germany's dominance in women's soccer. FIFA Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007, Marta has a lot to prove in Beijing. She was voted best player in last year's World Cup, but she missed a crucial penalty kick against Germany in the final which Brazil lost.