Five-time FIFA Player of the Year. 2007 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball winner. Most Women’s World Cup goals of all time. One of the greatest soccer players in history. Brazilian super star Marta will join the Orlando Pride and the National Women’s Soccer League, the club announced Friday. “We are incredibly proud to bring Marta […]

Five-time FIFA Player of the Year. 2007 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball winner. Most Women’s World Cup goals of all time. One of the greatest soccer players in history.Brazilian super star Marta will join the Orlando Pride and the National Women’s Soccer League, the club announced Friday. “We are incredibly proud to bring Marta to Orlando, and I am personally very excited as I have been a fan of her for many years,” Orlando City SC CEO Alex Leitão said in a team press release. “We started the Pride to win, and bringing Marta to Orlando is a testament to our belief in this team, our supporters and the passion for soccer in Central Florida.” Marta heads to Orlando on a two-year contract (with an option for a third year). She last played with FC Rosengård and joins the Pride following the Swedish club’s recent Champions League quarterfinal exit. Marta was last seen playing club soccer in the United States from 2009-2011 in Women’s Professional Soccer where she won two league MVPs as well as two league championships. She’s familiar with a few members of the Orlando Pride roster having played with Alex Morgan and Ashlyn Harris in 2011 as a member of the Western New York Flash. Morgan, who is currently playing with Lyon in France but expected to rejoin the Pride later this summer, quickly shared her excitement about the signing on Twitter, referencing their 2011 WPS title. [Empty Body] Harris also welcomed Marta to the team. [Empty Body] Marta, Harris, Ali Krieger and the Orlando Pride kick off the 2017 season on April 15 in Portland (Lifetime, 3 p.m. ET). The following week, the Pride play their home opener at the new Orlando City Stadium on April 22 (Lifetime, 4 p.m. ET).