In the sweltering Orlando heat, Marta delivered a moment of magic, scoring a cheeky Panenka penalty to lift the Orlando Pride to a 2-1 win over the San Diego Wave. After missing her first attempt, the Pride captain was given a rare second chance when VAR called an encroachment on San Diego. On her retake, Marta didn’t go left or right. She went straight down the middle, delicately chipping the ball into the back of the net in Marta fashion.

That daring finish, known as a Panenka, is a high-risk penalty where the taker lightly lobs the ball to the center as the goalkeeper dives to either side. If converted, it’s always something to talk about.

The goal wasn’t just a showstopper—it was historic. With the conversion, Marta now sits second all-time in NWSL regular season penalties scored (13), trailing only Megan Rapinoe (14). It also marked her 15th penalty taken for Orlando and capped off a gutsy afternoon for the Pride. They stay perfect through three games, with the victory also extending their undefeated run at home to 22 matches in all competitions, tying the all-time NWSL record previously set in 2022 by North Carolina Courage. In regular season matches, they’re undefeated in 17 matches.

On a day where the Florida humidity slowed both sides early, Marta’s flair and composure broke through the haze. Her post-match comments summed it up best: “God gave me another chance. He said do better than this one.” With her poise under pressure and a flair for the dramatic, Marta did just that—writing another iconic chapter in her legendary career.