Marta receives a fitting farewell and plays her last game for Brazil in the Olympic final

PARIS – Marta gets quite a farewell.

On Saturday, the Brazilian soccer legend will play her final international match when Brazil faces the United States women's national team in the Olympic final. It is the fourth time in her career that Marta has reached the final of a major tournament and the third time at the Olympics.

The Brazilians lost to the USWNT in 2004 and 2008. They also lost to Germany at the 2007 World Cup.

“We all wanted to play in the final at the Olympic Games, regardless of the circumstances. But of course this is an additional motivation,” Angelina said on Friday. “We want to give this medal to Marta. She has given us so much throughout her career. She has given everything she has for us and for women's football.”

“She really deserves to play in the final.”

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Marta, 38, is considered the best player in the history of women's football. She has been named FIFA Women's Player of the Year six times and her 17 goals at the World Cup are a record for any player. She was also the first player to score at five World Cups, a mark since matched by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Canadian Christine Sinclair.

She has a huge impact off the field too, passionately fighting for greater development of women's football and encouraging young women to keep playing regardless of the challenges they face.

Thanks to Marta, women’s football is no longer a minor issue in football-mad Brazil.

For years, women in Brazil rarely had the opportunity to play “the beautiful game.” Those who did were laughed at. But thanks to Marta and her fascinating style of play, Brazil stands behind its women's team.

In the more than two decades she spent with the national team, she also inspired today's generation of players – just as she had hoped.

“For anyone who loves women's soccer, she was more than just a role model and an icon. She was the best player for a long time,” said USWNT coach Emma Hayes. “But what she did for Brazil and the women of the next generation, what an inspiration she was to them, I'm glad she gets this opportunity.”

It is this next generation that has ensured that Marta will leave the sport with another Olympic medal, possibly a gold one.

She was banned for two matches for kicking Spain's Olga Carmona in the head in the final group match. Marta tried to win a high ball and jumped with her leg raised to bring it down, but hit Carmona's head instead.

She was devastated after receiving the red card and left the pitch sobbing.

But Brazil won its quarter-final against hosts France. In the semi-finals it then surprised world champions Spain with a clear 4-2 victory.

“The fact that we made it to the final and that this is her last Olympic Games with the chance to win the gold medal is a dream come true for all of us,” said Angelina. “We are just so happy about this opportunity.”

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Final: Marta has a chance to win elusive gold in final match against Brazil