Marta Vieira da Silva signs the petition against hunger

The world’s top-ranked female football player joins the 1billionhungry campaign

Marta Vieira da Silva, a Brazilian football striker and the world’s top-ranked female football player, has signed the 1billionhungry petition and blown the yellow whistle in Stockholm to protest against world hunger.

One million people have already signed the petition calling on world leaders to make the fight against hunger their top priority. The more people signing, the greater the political pressure,

The event took place in Stockholm last week during a ceremony where Marta was appointed a UNDP Goodwill ambassador to advocate and promote the global effort to fight poverty, with a special emphasis on the empowerment of women.

“I have not always had an easy life. My family was very poor and I know how hard many people have to fight to survive in this world. And it is even harder when you are a woman”, Marta said.

Marta grew up as one of four siblings raised by their mother in a poor neighbourhood of Dios Riachos in the Brazilian state of Alagoas. Today, in addition to her career as a world-famous woman football player, Marta is known in Brazil for donating money and sports supplies to her home town.

“I have been given opportunities to succeed in life, but I constantly think about the ones who did not have this chance. We all need to contribute to defeating poverty, “Marta adds.

Brilliant football techniques

It was in Sweden Marta's career flourished, scoring an outstanding 111 goals in 103 appearances between 2004 and 2008. During her time playing for her Swedish club Umeå IK, Marta was named the top scorer for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

Marta also won the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year four years in a row, from 2006-2009. Her brilliant football techniques are compared to that of Pele, which has earned her the nickname “Pele with skirts”.

She currently plays with the North American Football club FC Gold Pride and has led the club to a championship title.

In 2007 she was invited by Ronaldo and Zidane to play the Match Against Poverty in Fez in Morocco. After consultation with FIFA it was agreed that she would be the first woman ever to play in an international male football game.

The 1billionhungry campaign against hunger has received support from the Association of European Professional Football Leagues which presented a video with several top European players voicing their anger against the hunger situation in the World. The EPFL will also sponsor a "Match Day against Hunger" which takes place between 22-24 October.

Links:

European Match Day against Hunger

Schedule of matches

EPFL against hunger