Marta is in the running for the National Women’s Soccer League’s top individual prize.
The 38-year-old Brazilian soccer star headlines a group of five finalists for the NWSL’s MVP award.
Marta, who turns 39 in February, enjoyed her best year as a pro since joining the Orlando Pride in 2017. She registered nine goals and an assist this year.
Marta will face off against her Pride colleague Barbra Banda, Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga, Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith for the MVP award.
Banda and Chawinga, who are both in their first year in the league, were locked into a heated race for the Golden Boot throughout most of the season until Chawinga went on a record scoring run after the Olympics, scoring in seven of eight games. Banda finished the regular season with 13 goals.
Eighteen of the 24 finalists for awards are from the top four teams in the league, mirroring a season in which all four top seeds advanced to the semifinals this past weekend, and fourth and fifth place were separated by 16 points in the regular season.
The Orlando Pride lead all teams with seven nominations across the six awards.
Marta is also nominated for the newly created Midfielder of the Year award against North Carolina’s Ashley Sanchez, among others.
Orlando head coach Seb Hines is the favorite to win Coach of the Year after the Pride set a new points record (60) while going unbeaten through the first 23 games of the season and winning the Shield.
Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune leads the Rookie of the Year chase after tying Tobin Heath‘s single-season assist record. Bethune registered 10 assists before sustaining a season-ending meniscus tear while throwing out a first pitch a Washington Nationals game. She was participating in the ceremony after earning an Olympic gold medal with the USWNT.
The final round of voting uses a weighted scale of players (40%), owners/GMs/coaches (25%), media (25%) and fans (10%).
2024 NWSL awards finalists
Most Valuable Player: Barbra Banda (ORL), Temwa Chawinga (KC), Marta (ORL), Trinity Rodman (WAS), Sophia Smith (POR)
Defender of the Year: Naomi Girma (SD), Kaleigh Kurtz (NC), Tara McKeown (WAS), Emily Sams (ORL), Kylie Strom (ORL)
Goalkeeper of the Year: Ann-Katrin Berger (GFC), Mandy Haught (UTA), Anna Moorhouse (ORL)
Midfielder of the Year: Croix Bethune (WAS), Vanessa DiBernardo (KC), Lo’eau LaBonta (KC), Marta (ORL), Ashley Sanchez (NC)
Rookie of the Year: Croix Bethune (WAS), Claire Hutton (KC), Ally Sentnor (UTA)
Coach of the Year: Juan Carlos Amorós (GFC), Vlatko Andonovski (KC), Seb Hines (ORL)