By Conor Cummins
In a sporting world stricken by COVID-19 there has been some rare and bright news coming out France. The sporting world has grinded to a holt as many sporting events are being cancelled due to the epidemic and all games that are taking place are being played behind closed doors with all the safety procedures in place. This piece was written before the outbreak of COVID-19 and before the lockdown procedures were put in place all across the globe to ensure that the virus is contained and sorted. The outbreak of COVID has put the sporting world on pause for the time being as the world waits for the infection rate to decrease which will then reduce the chances of the pandemic escalating to a greater height than it is at this moment in time.
FIFA have halted all footballing events until further notice to help ensure that the pandemic is beaten sooner and to stop the risk of infection. From the Premier League to the Saudi Arabian League no games will take place until the governments in each country and the FIFA delegates in charge of the leagues in that country are sure that the risk of infection are is at 0 and when it is safe to do so that all the necessary safety implications are used.
Miraildes Maciel Mota or as commonly known as Formiga, is a Brazilian Women’s International who also plays for French star team Paris Saint-Germain. She is currently still gracing the pitch at the age of 42 whilst admitting she still has a few years left of her career. Few players go on to play into their 40’s as most retire in their mid-thirties. Born in Salvador she grew up in a period where it was illegal for women to be involved with football let alone play it.
Once the ban had been lifted, she started her career at the age of 12. She picked up the nickname of “Formiga” which in Portuguese translates to “Ant”, she received this nickname due to her selfless style of play which resembled her teammates of the way ants work together in colonies.
In 1995 she made her first Women’s World Cup for Brazil at the tender age of 17. Brazil placed 3rd in the running that year and received the bronze medal which to a 17-year-old is regarded as a high achievement for someone who was technically not an adult themselves. Formiga continued to represent her country until after the 2016 Rio Olympic games where the Brazilian International announced her retirement from the beautiful game, where she still played for her domestic club at the time. She was then coaxed back by the manager of the International Side Vadao. It was in aid of making sure the team qualified for the 2019 World Cup held in France. There was uncertainty whether Formiga would even play in the tournament, fellow teammates and coaching staff were all left in wonder would Formiga grace the pitch for Brazil in one last tournament? That was until 8 months before the tournament was set to start that Formiga announced that she would put on the Brazil shirt and play for her country again at another major international tournament.
Formiga then went on to pass Christie Pearce to be the oldest player to compete at a major International Tournament at 41 Years and 98 Days old. A statistic shown in that particular tournament that out of 552 players taking part in the tournament in France, 150 of the players were not born when Formiga made her competitive debut for the Brazilian National Side.
The longevity of Formiga’s career has to be down to the lack of injuries throughout her career. It also is a statement that women’s football retirement ages are starting to become higher and higher which in time could also have an effect on the men’s game and could mean we are seeing well known faces in the sport stay in the sport for prolonged periods of time. This would bring a sentimental value to a lot of their fans as most have grown up watching these players, and too see them continuing to play can also inspire the younger generation.
Formiga had been quoted saying “Breaking down barriers only spurs me on more” and for someone of her age in a sport mainly dominated by young athletes it shows the determination and the drive from her to be the best that she can truly be. Many players in the field have praised Formiga for the longevity of her career and they all have the upmost respect for her, Christie Pearce was quoted saying “ Women’s football is relying on your career to survive” this alone shows the impact that Formiga has on the game and how she impacts the game itself. Pearce also said “You cry at the beginning to then look back on it all and smile” this is referring to the struggles a player goes through in their career to be the best and stay at the top of their game, the life of a football has many ups and downs and more so is the case for Formiga she had battled through times where people didn’t believe women should play football and times where sexism and prejudice were rife, there are still some people who to this day believe that women don’t belong in Football but Formiga has imprinted her career in the face of women’s football and has shown that Women can and will do exactly what men can do and the longevity of her career shows how the development of Women as athletes is changing day by day and at a fast rate. Many researches have looked into how certain players stay the way they are and how they can continue playing by looking at dietary habits and other avenues of exercise throughout the players career.
Formiga was quoted saying that she intends to retire for definite after the 2021 Olympic games when the tournament ends no matter what the outcome for the Brazilian National side. But did not say whether she will retire from domestic football as well. Her club Paris Saint-Germain are French title competitors and Formiga is certain she will see out her time at PSG and make sure she continues to make the most out of her career as she has already done so far in it.
The midfielder is playing in a position that requires the most fitness on the pitch as she has to float around the pitch and cover multiple positions at a time in order to make sure that her team aren’t left outnumbered in certain areas. The midfield position is strenuous and tough and at the age Formiga is you would start to worry that she is starting to slow down, this could not be further than the truth as Formiga feels that she has more to give and that she has shown no signs of slowing down and she won’t show signs anytime soon.
Formiga is a true pioneer of Women’s Football as she has been there since the beginning and she has seen the changes throughout her career. Something only a number of players would get to witness in their lifetime, she has made countless memories not only for her, but for the millions of people who watch her and all the people she has played with before and shared a pitch with. 25 years of playing for the Brazilian National team and soon to be 26 if she keeps to her word and plays at the 2021 Olympics for Brazil. 25 years of joy, blood, sweat and also tears to get to where she is today and to show how she has stated her dominance on the game at her age.
Many players Formiga’s age would have retired in their 30s the main reason Women in football to retire is to go off and start a family and some return and some don’t. It is just the way that it goes with Women’s Football, but Formiga has devoted her life to her country and to the people of it every time she puts on the Brazil jersey. Even with her domestic clubs she has played for in the past she has made sure that she gives 110% every time she steps on the pitch. She shows great passion whenever she plays and leaves it all out there on the field.
Although her years in football are numbered Formiga has truly shown that the game changes each day In ways some people can’t even see, she is a real life case of a player who has a big love for the game and not only “in it for the money” the money is only a factor, she is doing what she loves and she is proud to do what she loves because she enjoys every second of it, even though all the highs and the lows in her career it has shaped her to be the player she is today and with that she can then help the younger players in the game by allowing them to look up to her as a role model, and what a role model at that.
As social media grows, people are able to look back at clips of players in their prime on sites such as YouTube where players best moments can be showcased for millions if not billions of people to see around the world which again adds to their fame and success. It is a way that people can become inspired by certain individuals as they try and emulate their favourite players in the sport.
There are many ways to describe Formiga throughout her career, it is clear there is much more to come from her and she is certainly not over yet, despite saying she is set to retire for definite next year. She is a true great of the game and she has cemented her greatness in the whole of women’s football, inspiring a nation and leading the way for all the younger players getting involved in the women’s game.
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