With Brazil’s exit, Marta delivers an emotional farewell to the World Cup

Brazil’s Marta plays in the Women’s World Cup Group F against Jamaica in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday. A 0-0 draw meant Brazil was out of the tournament.

Hamish Blair/AP

For one of the biggest names in soccer, her reign on its biggest stage has come to an end.

Marta played in her first World Cup at age 17. Now, at 37, the Brazilian superstar has played in her sixth and last.

With a 0-0 draw against Jamaica on Wednesday, Brazil crashed out of the group stage at the Women’s World Cup, its earliest elimination since 1995.

It was an outcome far from the team’s high hopes when they arrived in Australia. Brazil had hoped to pull off the biggest win of all, bringing home the Cup for Marta, as Argentina did in December to win a last elusive trophy for Lionel Messi. But it was not to be, against a solid Jamaica team that’s now headed to its first Round of 16.

And for Marta, Brazil’s exit at this tournament marks the end of her spectacular international soccer career.

Brazil forward Marta waves after the World Cup match against Jamaica in Melbourne on Wednesday.

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She holds the all-time scoring record, women or men, for World Cup goals – 17. A two-time Olympic silver medalist, she has been FIFA’s World Player of the Year six times.

She scored in each of her previous World Cup tournaments, though not in this one. In Brazil’s group stages matches, she came in…