Two Orlando Pride stars stun the world with historic FIFPRO recognition | OneFootball

FIFA has announced the 2024 FIFPRO Women's World 11, and two Orlando Pride players stole the spotlight: Barbra Banda and Marta. Representing Zambia and Brazil, respectively, the two athletes are the embodiment of a historic year for both the Pride and women's soccer worldwide. Both played key roles in a season marked by record-breaking achievements, championship titles, and breathtaking individual performances.

The word "veteran" perhaps describes Marta, but nothing near weariness or complacency. In 2024, the Brazilian midfielder was again proving why she is seen as the best women's soccer player of all time. Marta didn't just help Orlando Pride claim the double, winning both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship, but also delivered a fantastic individual performance. The Queen scored nine goals and added one assist during the NWSL regular season, her best since 2017. When playoffs time came, the captain again shone with two crucial goals that helped the Pride lift the coveted NWSL trophy. To add to that, she won a silver medal with Brazil at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

This is the third time Marta has been named to the FIFPRO Women's World 11, having been listed previously in 2019 and 2021. After all these years of an illustrious career, the legend just doesn't cease to amaze people with her performances, to move them, and to confirm her importance on the global stage.

Barbra Banda: African powerhouse on the world stage

If Marta represents experience, then Barbra Banda symbolizes a meteoric rise. The Zambian forward made history as the first African player to be part of the FIFPRO Women's World 11, a milestone that underlines just how sensational her season has been-but also one that shows women's soccer in Africa is on a growth curve.

Banda arrived in the NWSL in 2024 and wasted no time making her mark. Her stats speak for themselves: 13 goals and six assists in the regular season, a finalist for MVP, and second place in the league's Golden Boot race. She also tied the record for most braces in a single season, scoring two goals in four matches.

And when the playoffs arrived, well, Banda shone all the brighter. She scored in every single postseason match-including the winner in the NWSL Championship final-en route to Championship MVP. Four of the Pride's eight playoff goals belonged to Banda, just how important she was on their run to the title.

The forward continued setting record after record on the international stage, too: while representing Zambia at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she had four goals, with the highlight-a hat trick-against Australia. She is also the first women's soccer player to register three hat tricks in Olympic history.

Her influence didn't stop there. Banda earned a nomination for the Ballon d'Or and won the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award, establishing herself as one of the sport's fast-rising stars.

A historic season for Orlando Pride

While Marta and Banda shined individually, they were central to a historic season for Orlando Pride. The team not only claimed the NWSL Shield and Championship but also shattered a string of impressive records. They collected 60 points—the most in a single season—alongside a record 18 wins. The Pride also went on an unbeaten streak of 24 games, the longest in NWSL history, and set another league milestone with eight consecutive victories.

Together, Marta and Banda formed a perfect blend on the field, with experience, leadership, and an insatiable hunger to win.

Recognition among the best in the world

The FIFPRO Women's World 11 is one of a kind because it is decided by the players themselves-for the players. But if peers acknowledge the performance of an athlete, then the honor becomes even more weighty. Marta and Banda being inducted into the 2024 World 11 sends an indelible message: their talent, hard work, and consistency haven't gone unnoticed.

Marta, with her whole history and lasting legacy, still moves and inspires generations. Meanwhile, Banda is opening new doors for African women's soccer, proving to the world that there's still a wealth of talent waiting to be discovered.