FORMIGA

General
INTERNATIONAL BREAK AND RETURN
She planned to retire from international competition after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but after a two-year break, she returned to the national team in 2018. "I thought about it for a long time. I talked to Vadao [then national coach] and he told me the difficulties he had replacing a player in my position. I saw that he really needed me, and knowing what I mean for women's football I accepted and told him that I would help the team. My presence in the team is very important for the new players, to make them feel relaxed, to be aware they are good players and to help guide them." (Confederacao Brasileira de Futebol YouTube channel, 01 Mar 2018; globoesporte.globo.com, 08 Jun 2019)

RETIREMENT PLANS
She plans to retire from competitive football in 2022, but says she wants to remain involved in the sport to help develop women's football. "It could either be teaching young players or to be involved in coaching, but I want to help. Whether that be with the national team or at club level. I want to be on the inside in order to see the evolution of these girls and raise awareness for the youngest, to give real value to what they now have and can use. I didn't have even a third of what these girls have now. Years ago it was lean times, I couldn't see any development. Now I can see a structure, so they have to give value to that and continue the job of those who have retired. The same way I continued the job of girls before me. That's how it has to be done, passing the baton." (PSG Feminines Facebook page, 15 Jun 2019; folhape.com.br, 09 May 2020)

HUMBLE MENTALITY
She says she is a humble person who does not think about individual awards of acknowledgements. "I don't put myself on a pedestal. I have always had my feet on the ground and always liked that. I didn't want to get carried away with what I was doing, so I wouldn't get lost on the way. Some people say, 'You are very humble and that doesn't allow you to see what you represent to women's football'. I know it can be good for oneself, but at the same time I feel embarrassed. One day, one lady told me that I shouldn't feel embarrassed when I receive a compliment because I deserve it. And I told her that that's how I am and I wouldn't change. So, I still haven't accepted [being a top figure in women's football], and I'm pretty sure it will take a long time before I accept it." (folhape.com.br, 09 May 2020)

In 2019 she became the player with the most participations in a World Cup tournament, having played in seven consecutive editions between 1995 and 2019. At the 2015 edition she became the oldest player to score in the World Cup, after netting against the Republic of Korea at age 37. (theguardian.com, 10 Jun 2015; globoesporte.globo.com, 02 Feb 2016; fifa.com, 22 Jun 2015; globoesporte.globo.com, 08 Jun 2019)

She has competed in every edition of the Olympic Games since women's football was first contested in 1996 in Atlanta. The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro was her sixth participation, equalling Spanish water polo player Manuel Estiarte, and Russian volleyball players Evgeniya Estes and Sergey Tetyukhin for the most participations by any athlete in a team sport. In 2016 she also tied the record for most participations by a Brazilian athlete in any sport at the Olympic Games, matching compatriots Rodrigo Pessoa [equestrian], Hugo Hoyama [table tennis], Torben Grael [sailing] and Robert Scheidt [sailing]. (espnw.espn.uol.com.br, 12 Jul 2016; brasil2016.gov.br, 28 Jun 2016; esportes.estadao.com.br, 12 Apr 2016; globoesporte.globo.com, 02 Feb 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 26 Jan 2021)