Brazil great Marta goes off in tears after red card

Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer Marta walked off the pitch in tears after being shown a straight red card during their 2-0 defeat by Spain in the Olympic women’s football tournament.

Marta, who will retire from international football this year, was sent off for narrowly missing Olga Carmona’s head with a dangerous high-footed tackle during the Group C match in Bordeaux.

Her hopes of appearing again in the tournament now rest on whether Brazil make it through their quarter-final tie against hosts France, after the Selecao advanced as one of the best third-placed sides.

Brazil were level when Marta was sent off just before half-time, with Spain, scoring in the 68th minute and then the 17th minute of second-half injury time – an extension prompted by multiple injury delays – to maintain their 100% record.

Marta, 38, won Olympic silver at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, losing to the United States on both occasions.

She is the all-time leading scorer in World Cups, men’s or women’s, with 17 goals in 23 appearances across six tournaments.