'Christine Sinclair is Canadian soccer': Former teammates reflect on historic career

How do you begin to describe the impact Christine Sinclair has made on Canadian soccer? Is it possible to sum up more than two decades of blood, sweat, tears and triumph? 

"I think the best way is that Christine Sinclair is Canadian soccer," long-time teammate Diana Matheson told CBC Sports. "Where we're at now with the success of the men's and women's programs, with the men now competing again in World Cups, with us co-hosting part of 2026 [Men's World Cup], with the women's team winning the Olympic gold medal and multiple Olympic medals. None of that happens without Sinc.

"The place we're at now in Canada, of having the conversation of being a soccer country, is because of Sinc." 

Sinclair, the pride of Burnaby, B.C., announced her retirement from international duty on Friday after a prolific, award-filled career. Her 190 goals for country are more than any player in international football — men's or women's. She's pulled on the Canadian jersey 327 times, second on FIFA's all-time list for international appearances. She's a four-time Olympian with three Olympic medals — a gold and two bronze. She's played in six World Cups, scoring in five editions of the tournament. 

But Sinclair's legacy goes much deeper than numbers and accolades. 

WATCH | Sinclair always came up big when it mattered most:

She is the very definition of character. Of quiet leadership. Of mentorship. Of showing up for your teammates. Of leaving the game better than which you found it. 

With deceptive pace and supreme instincts, along with proclivity and precision around the net, Sinclair made her senior debut as a 16-year-old in March 2000. 

In just her second match for the Canadian senior national team, Sinclair pocketed her first goal, taking advantage of a mistake from a Norwegian defender and converting a breakaway past goalkeeper Bente Nordby. 

WATCH | Epic 2012 Olympic performance cemented Sinclair's legend:

The goals kept coming — right foot, left foot, headers, volleys off set pieces, free kicks.  

"You could just tell she was a force, she was next level. She was one of those players that you could never seem to get a step ahead of on the field," Matheson said. "The runs she would make, the goals she would score.

"I've never seen anyone who seemingly has their blood pressure drop, their heart rate slow down the closer they got to goal. That was always Sinc." 

WATCH | Sinclair becomes all-time goal-scoring leader: