After being knocked out in the round of 16 for the second straight World Cup, this time by hosts France, Marta remained optimistic about the future of young female footballers in her nation.

“It's wanting more,” the six-time FIFA Women's World Player of the Year said.

“It's training more. It's taking care of yourself more. It's being ready to play 90 plus 30 minutes. This is what I ask of the girls.

"There's not going to be a Formiga forever. There's not going to be a Marta forever. There's not going to be a Christiane.

"The women's game depends on you to survive. So think about that. Value it more. Cry in the beginning so you can smile in the end.”

Marta along with Cristiane and Formiga have become the leaders of women's football in Brazil and it means they've been through it all.

A report from SB Nation earlier this year highlighted how deep-rooted sexism and inequalities are in the women's game for the South American nation.

During the unveiling of his World Cup team, head coach Vadão spoke little about the re-direction of the team but when he discussed the players, he remarked that women are particularly difficult to calm down in the locker room.

While head of women’s soccer Marco Aurelio Cunha has publicly evaluated the team’s success on the basis of physical attractiveness.

More recently, players revolted against the CBF in 2017 after Emily Lima, the team's first woman head coach, was fired and Vadão was reinstated. Lima had seven wins, a draw, and five losses and was still building the type of squad and support she needed for the national team.

Cristiane announced her retirement on Instagram after the announcement before the women's football community in Brazil released a letter to the CBF asking for Lima’s return, integration of women into its administrative ranks, and more resources for the national team.

The Federation appeared to make the right move by creating a commission to prepare an extensive report on the removal of Lima but that hope didn't last long as the commission was disbanded two months after presenting their findings.

Brazil has had much success despite the fight they've faced to gain the recognition their men's team does.

It's the reason why the words echoed by Marta mean so much.