The inaugural Olympic Women's Soccer Championship was held in Atlanta in 1996.
Brazil is there, but their management doesn't seem to take the team very seriously.
Marta, 35, is one of the veterans of the team dreaming of winning a medal at the Olympics
The women's team sat in the back seat of the plane, while the men's team sat in first class. And the women only got enough pennants — what the captain exchanged before kickoff — for the group stage.
When the Brazilian group qualified, the goalkeeper had to teach the captain basic English, apologizing for not having a pennant.
They've come a long way since – Formiga has been with them ever since. The busy midfielder ("Formiga" is a nickname, translated as "ant") was just 18 years old in 1996.
25 years later, at the age of 43, she's still there — along with the great Marta, a junior at 35.
The current Olympics are likely to be their last dance. Of course, it's hard to see Formiga continue to play international football in a fast-moving sport.
Formiga and Marta experienced roller coaster highs and lows. A few years after unexpectedly winning the bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics, Brazil became one of the race leaders.
The planet met Marta at the 2004 Olympics — in the women's race, when Brazil lost to the United States in the final, it had all the prestige of the World Cup, with no age limit.
Four years later, the same thing happened. During this time, they lost to Germany in the 2007 World Cup final.
They haven't come close since. These symbols were present at the London Olympics nine years ago. In front of a large crowd at Wembley Stadium, Brazil lost 1-0 to England.
A few years ago, Marta was at a good position in front of his opponents, and now Brazil seems to be at a physical disadvantage. The game continues.
Formiga, 43, is likely to represent her country at her last Olympics
Swedish coach Pia Sundhage leads Brazil credit: AFP
Countries are investing in women's football, while Brazil is paying the price for failing to improve its domestic structure. For a decade, they've been chasing runaway trains that missed opportunities.
After the last World Cup two years ago, Brazil brought in Swedish coach Piazza Sanhaci, who defeated Brazil in 2008 to win the gold medal while coaching the United States. This did not lead to a personnel revolution.
Sundhage has maintained most of the old guard. Seven of the usual starting lineups are over 30, and none of the rest are below 26.
With a Scandinavian-style 4-4-2, they are more aggressive than their predecessors. As the game progresses, it will be interesting to see if they have the ability to cope.
They started with a 5-0 win over China, and the score of this match made them a little flattered.
They showed plenty of offensive threats, but their goals led a fascinating life, with the Chinese constantly hitting the goal frame.
What followed was a thrilling 3-3 draw with European champions Netherlands.
After qualifying for the knockout rounds, Brazil's next quarter-final will take on Canada.
And on Tuesday, they confirmed their position against Zambia in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 score and a match against Canada on Friday.
Now, win or go home. In this case, "going home" would mean, of course, for Formiga, and perhaps for Marta, leaving the international stage for the last time.
When this happens, they can exit with their heads held high. As early as 1996, Brazil's women's football team was just out of the illegal period.
Now, this is a normal, healthy activity in the lives of many Brazilian women. Formiga, Marta, and others legitimized their movement, and they did it with fire and skill.