Superstar forward Marta is the five-time women's world player of the year without a club to call her own.
The 24-year-old Brazilian dominated voting in the FIFA award announced Monday, after her stellar season with United States Women's Professional Soccer League champion FC Gold Pride.
But the Bay Area club folded in November and she has no idea where she'll land next.
''I don't know exactly where I'm going to go,'' Marta told The Associated Press through a translator, after tearfully accepting her fifth straight FIFA world player accolade.
''I have a contract and I have to stay. I'm going to see with the agents what happens from now on. By February or March I should have a better idea.''
Uncertainty is not new for Marta, who has fulfilled all expectations to be the league's signature player.
Exactly two years ago, she used a press conference in Zurich for the FIFA award candidates to announce she was coming to America.
Marta moved from Sweden to sign a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Sol that helped launch the WPS.
She was league MVP and top scorer for a team that lost the championship game, then its backers.
Marta transferred to Santa Clara-based Gold Pride, and swept the individual honors again for a title-winning side which then went out of business.
''It's a little stressful to change from city to city every time,'' Marta acknowledged, adding she had enjoyed her football. ''It was a very good season with the team and unfortunately it couldn't keep going. If we could, we would certainly have won more titles.
''I love the USA. If I can go back it's a good thing.''
Stability can't come soon enough in a World Cup year.
Marta also helped Brazil win the 2010 South American Championship and secure its place at the 16-nation tournament kicking off in Germany on June 26.
The 2007 runner-up is seeded in a group with Australia, Norway and Equatorial Guinea.
''This is a special year and we're ready. It looks good,'' Marta said at a press conference Monday, flanked by two star players from the host nation and defending champion.
Marta easily won the year's first Brazil vs. Germany encounter.
She got 38.20 per cent of the world player votes, beating three-time winner Birgit Prinz who got 15.18 per cent and newcomer Lira Bajramaj with almost 10 per cent. Votes were cast by coaches and captains of national teams, plus international journalists.
Marta couldn't quite keep her promise to keep emotions under control during her acceptance speech.
''It's almost too good to be true,'' she said.
