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Marta won the inaugural FIFA award for the best goal in women’s soccer — named after the Brazil great herself.

The 38-year-old was given the Marta Award at The Best FIFA Football Awards on Tuesday for her goal for Brazil in an international friendly against Jamaica in June.

Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho — and create the new Marta Award for the women’s game.

“To compete against so many great players — we had some fantastic goals,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful season, too. But I’m even happier to receive an award that bears my name; this is undoubtedly the greatest honor.”

Marta is widely regarded as the greatest female soccer player of all time and had won the award for the women’s player of the year on a record six occasions.

She scored a record 119 goals for Brazil in 185 appearances for her country, spanning six World Cups and six Olympics, before retiring from international soccer after the Paris Games — where Brazil lost to the United States in the final.

Marta won the first NWSL title of her career last month when Orlando Pride beat Washington Spirit 1-0 in the final. She had scored another wondergoal in the semifinal, that could have also been a candidate for best of the year.

Marta was asked the day before the title match if she thought it was possible she might give the award to herself.

“You guys need to decide, because who votes for the best goal in the year? It’s you. It’s the people in the public. So it should be really interesting, like Marta’s Award goes to Marta!” she said with a laugh.

The Marta Award was voted for by fans and a panel of FIFA legends.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/43027962/marta-picked-first-winner-marta-award-best-goal

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With the news of Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk’s positive test, the latest chapter of soccer’s doping scandals is being written. In the meantime, we look back at some of the biggest names that have been suspended for doping across soccer’s history.

Soccer isn’t a sport categorically linked with doping scandals, yet some of the sport’s biggest stars have faced bans over the years. Mudryk’s recent positive test for meldonium, as with other players who test positive for banned substances, garner headlines and attention from across the globe.

Let’s take a look back at some of the most notable doping bans in soccer.

5. Fred

The former Manchester United midfielder tested positive for a banned substance while playing for Brazil during the 2015 Copa América in Chile.

In Dec. 2015, Conmebol suspended Fred for one year—retroactive to the date of the positive test in the summer—but he could continue to play for his then club, FC Shakhtar Donetsk. However, in Feb. 2016, FIFA extended Fred’s suspension to the club level as well, keeping him on the sidelines for the final four months of the 2015-16 season.

The Brazilian would return and have a solid season in Ukraine’s top flight, earning him a spot in Brazil’s 2018 FIFA World Cup squad and a move to Manchester United.

4. André Onana

Before reaching a UEFA Champions League final with Inter Milan and later becoming Manchester United’s replacement for David de Gea, André Onana was suspended for a full year during his time at Ajax.

Onana was caught with a banned substance in his blood, one that, according to him, he mistakenly consumed. He wanted to take paracetamol to cure a headache but accidentally took Lasimac—the banned substance—which had been prescribed to his wife after giving birth.

UEFA issued the suspension that applied to both club and country in Feb. 2021. The goalkeeper appealed the ruling and the ban was reduced to nine months. He returned in November and was able to be part of Cameroon’s journey to the African Cup of Nations semifinal in Jan. 2022, before moving to Inter the following summer.

3. Pep Guardiola

Before he became one of the greatest managers of all time, in 2001, Pep Guardiola was in the eye of the storm of a doping scandal after he tested positive for a banned substance when he was playing at then Serie A side, Brescia.

After a second positive test once again found Nandrolone in his blood, Guardiola was hit with a four month suspension and an economic fine, despite his boisterous protests pleading his innocence.

Guardiola served his suspension; however, he never stopped fighting the case. Eight years later in 2009, when he was already Barcelona’s manager, he was cleared of all charges by an Italian judge.

2. Paul Pogba

The 2018 World Cup winning, French midfielder, Paul Pogba is perhaps the latest example of a massive doping scandal in the soccer world.

Pogba was temporarily suspended in Sept. 2023, after a test revealed high levels of testosterone in his system. Following further testing, he was handed a four year suspension in Feb. 2024, one of the longest doping bans ever levied, after he tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

The former Juventus and Manchester United player appealed the decision and got his suspension reduced to 18 months. The Frenchman is now targeting a return to action in March 2025, currently in the market for a new team to resume his career as a 31-year-old.

1. Diego Maradona

Considered by many the greatest soccer player of all time, Diego Armando Maradona is also the face of doping scandals in the soccer world.

Twice in his career, Maradona received a 15 month ban for doping. The first came in 1991 during his time in Italy. He tested positive for cocaine and the suspension ensued, ending his time with Napoli, the club who later baptized their stadium with Maradona’s name.

The second came during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. After scoring in Argentina’s opening game victory against Greece, Maradona was very publicly taken to do a drug test following the victory against Nigeria in the second game. The test came back positive with five different variants of ephedrine, as Argentine media put it “Maradona tasted them all.” He was immediately kicked out of the tournament and given his second 15 month ban. It was the last time Maradona played with the Albiceleste shirt.

Maradona tested positive for a third and final time in Aug. 1997, during his final stint at Boca Juniors, before retiring from the sport in October of that year.

Source: https://www.si.com/soccer/five-notable-soccer-players-that-have-been-suspended-for-doping-scandals

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Source: https://supersport.com/football/general$/news/537970f9-c2c4-457c-add3-0d55a4a85bf5/former-uswnt-star-becky-sauerbrunn-announces-retirement

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FILE – United States’ Becky Sauerbrunn, left, and Meghan Klingenberg celebrate following their win over Japan at the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer championship in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, July 5, 2015. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/us-defender-becky-sauerbrunn-retires-professional-soccer-after-116879929

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Check Out: Balotelli Sends Message To Bafana Striker

As Pogba gears up for his return, he faces a crucial decision regarding his next club. With offers from Galatasaray and Marseille in the mix, the Frenchman has the opportunity to redefine his career after a challenging period.

Source: https://www.snl24.com/soccerladuma/international/rest-of-world/new-club-interested-in-pogba-20241217

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Matrix Midwest) – St. Louis native and former U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team captain Becky Sauerbrunn has announced her retirement from professional soccer, U.S. Soccer announced.

Through her 16-year international career, Sauerbrunn played in three Olympic Games and three Women’s World Cups.

For country, she finishes with 219 caps (185 starts), the 10th most in USWNT history. She has captained the USA 42 times during her career, fifth most in USWNT history.

While in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Sauerbrunn won two championships in her five seasons with FC Kansas City before playing two seasons with the Utah Royals, and eventually with the Portland Thorns for her last five seasons.

She helped Portland win the 2022 NWSL title and the 2021 NWSL Shield.

“I learned early on that we were all just renting our jerseys,” said Sauerbrunn. “That I got to wear the U.S. Soccer crest once was an honor and privilege for which I’m forever grateful. The fact that I got to do it over 200 times is truly humbling. I competed with and learned from some of the greatest players and leaders this sport has ever seen, and I consider myself beyond lucky to have been able to play a small part in this program’s storied history.”

Sauerbrunn went to Ladue High School, whose field is now named after her, and played for the JB Marine Soccer Club.

She was named the Missouri Player of the Year twice, as well as a high school All-American before being recruited to play at the University of Virginia, where she was named a First-Team All-American.

When she first came onto the USWNT scene, Sauerbrunn earned just three caps in her first three years. She earned her first spot on the team in 2011 for the Women’s World Cup in Germany.

During that tournament, which featured the iconic Megan Rapinoe-Abby Wambach equalizing header goal in the quarterfinal against Brazil, Sauerbrunn stepped up after Rachel Buehler was given a red card.

She also started in the 3-1 semifinal win over France, going the full 90 minutes to help the US reach the final.

In the 2012 London Olympics, she played in three matches to help Team USA win the gold medal.

Sauerbrunn ended her career starting 167 of her 182 caps between 2013 and 2024.

The 39-year-old is considered one of the greatest defenders in U.S. Women’s National Team history.

Copyright 2024 Matrix Midwest. All rights reserved.

Source: https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/12/17/st-louis-native-former-us-womens-national-team-captain-announces-retirement-professional-soccer/

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