Alda Marta: chasing his soccer dreams to Panama

Junior Alda Marta is one of Aragon’s rising stars and has been selected to play soccer with the Panama U-17 national team. As a midfielder who played for the 06 Peninsula team and Aragon’s varsity team, the up and coming athlete saw Panama was a fantastic new opportunity.

From a young age, soccer has been a huge part of Marta’s life and something that has come naturally to him.

“I think my favorite memory would be me running around my house when I was a little kid in my Brazil jersey,” Marta said.“ All I would do was just kick the ball and hit the wall.”

This spark from a young age is what shaped him into the soccer player he is today. 

“My dad used to say how he didn’t need to train me at all,” Marta said. “He would always see me playing with a soccer ball, but the first time I ever played organized [soccer] was AYSO when I was seven years old.”

From there, Marta’s passion for the sport continued to grow. It was gratifying for Marta to have his father with him as they traveled to Panama for his showcase. 

“I’m excited to go with my dad [because Panama is] his old country, so it’s a lot of good memories that I can build again,” Marta said. ”It’s good to go there for him and as well for myself.”

“I’m excited to go with my dad [because Panama is] his old country, so it’s a lot of good memories that I can build again”

Leading up to his most recent trip with the team for the World Cup Qualifiers in February of this year, Marta got called up suddenly after an injury and had a quick decision to make.

“When I was getting ready for school, my dad [called] the coach and he asked me [to guest] so I just decided to take a chance and take the risk,” Marta said. “And it paid off.”

After winning their final game against Honduras, a tight match that ended in a 2-1 score, Panama qualified for the U-17 World Cup.

“It’s a grit and grind team that works hard,” Marta said. “They’re very hungry to do well for their country and for themselves and just play with each other.”

This qualification means a lot for both the program and Marta’s personal goals.

”This isn’t just the team that we’re looking for this year coming up for the World Cup but also for 2026 because we’re the future,” Marta said. “It’s just something I’ve always dreamed of as a kid to be able to play with the national team and … to have a chance to get that type of exposure and … opportunities.”

Getting to this point hasn’t been without challenges. Marta admits he has had his fair share of bad practices and games, including his second time guesting with the national team.

“When we went out to Colombia and had that tournament, I was a little bit disappointed in how I played,” Marta said. “I know I was just coming off an injury but … I felt like I could have shown more of who I was as a player.”

“You can tell everyone there is hungry to be better, and they all have a lot to fight for”

Coming back from the trip, Marta feels his parents helped him work through the rough patch and have been major supporters throughout his soccer career.

“There’s been a lot of times that [my dad has] gotten on me during training,” Marta said. “Sometimes we ended the trainings early because of my attitude … and that’s really helped me shape my character on the field.”

That being said, he also feels his mother played a significant role in his success.

“[My mom] connects it all,” Marta said. “Even though my dad does all the trainings and he’s a coach, without my mom being on top of everything, [cooking] right foods, going to the trainings, taking me [to games], I wouldn’t be where I [am] at.”

In addition to his parents, Marta felt overwhelming support from his teammates and coaching staff. 

“The head coach there … would come into my room and always ask me how I felt,” Marta said. “He would talk to me in English and just check on me [and] see how I’m feeling.”

This was especially helpful for Marta as the language barrier was something he was worried about.

“I know Panamanians like my grandma and my grandpa speak fast Spanish,” Marta said. “So learning to adapt to that and having to sort of try and fit in as much as I can, is … a challenge.”

Language proved to not be the only challenge for Marta during his time in Panama. While playing with the team, he was exposed to physicality that was more challenging than what he was used to.

“I think a lot of the guys there are stronger so a lot of the referees allow certain play,” Marta said. “I know that I’m able to hold the ball, but to be physically stronger and fit is my goal.”

Both on and off the field, Marta noticed a difference in mindset of the Panamanian players he saw.

“You can tell everyone there is hungry to be better, and they all have a lot to fight for,” Marta said. “When my dad and I [went] on walks, there [would be] a lot of little small soccer fields … and it’s always packed. There’s never an empty field.”

As a soccer player, Marta’s strengths include his sharp technical skills and fast decision making.

“My strength is having the ball at my feet and the technical ability [to be] able to play in tight spaces,” Matra said. “I’m able to think at a fast pace and I know what I want to do with the ball before I get it.” 

In addition, Marta is known for his attitude as a teammate.

“He is good at the sport but he also knows how to be a team player,” said Aragon senior goalkeeper Lukas Peschke. “He knows when to pass the ball, knows when to make a joke, knows when to be serious. He just has a lot of football IQ and experience.”

Aragon head coach Joe Rousseau also acknowledges Marta’s contribution to the Aragon team as he identifies him as a key player.

“He is a kid that, when it comes time, always steps up,” Rousseau said. “He’s been very consistent last year and very consistent  this year and he works really hard.”

In Panama, Marta enjoyed creating relationships with his teammates.

“[My teammates] want to learn English and come down here so they still keep in touch with me”

“Every night we would all just go to our room and we would watch scary movies and talk and that was really fun memories,” Marta said. “We were able to get away from the stress of having to win games and just … enjoy.”

Even after he returned home, Marta has continued to maintain friendships with his teammates in Panama.

“A lot of them now like to talk to me in English,” Marta said. “[They] want to learn English and come down here so they still keep in touch with me.”

Looking forward, Marta continues to work towards his goal of playing soccer professionally.

“Obviously I want to be able to play for an academy team like the MLS academies, maybe even [play in] England,” Marta said. “But as I get there, I want to make sure I’m … having the same joy that I have had since a little kid playing and … that mentally I am still in it and I still want to do it.”

Marta plans to return to Panama over the summer to resume his training with the national team.