There was not a dry eye in the BC Place on Dec. 5 as they witnessed Christine Sinclair’s last game in a Canadian uniform.
After more than two decades in the sport, women’s soccer superstar Sinclair has hung up her cleats and retired from international play.
She announced her retirement on Oct. 28 in an Instagram post, and since then the soccer world has been anticipating the final game.
Sinclair told reporters two days before the game that it was just hitting her.
“It’s kind of sinking in now that this is it … (I’m) just trying to enjoy every minute,” Sinclair said. “There’s no secret. It’s a lot of work. But man, it’s the best job in the world.”
Vancouver’s BC Place, renamed Christine Sinclair Place for the night, was rocking with 48,112 supporters, the most for a women’s soccer friendly in Canadian history.
All of them were there to witness a Canadian soccer legend lace up her cleats one last time for the national team.
In the 40-year-old star’s more than two-decade-long career, she has collected a gold and two bronze medals at the Olympic Games.
She’s also been named Canada Soccer Player of the Year 14 times and has scored 190 goals in international play, the most for both men and women.
Before the game was filled with tears, hugs, speeches, and pyrotechnics but when the whistle went, it was just like any game.
In the 58th minute against Australia, Sinclair took her final steps in the Canadian jersey after getting the call to substitute out – and the person to accept her captain’s armband and spot on the field was Abbotsford’s Sophie Schmidt.
The pair hugged and the final 32-plus minutes were also the last moments of Schmidt’s career in Canadian colours.
Although Canada earned the 1-0 win, it was a celebration of the careers of two of the all-time greats in Canadian women’s soccer.
Midfielder Quinn, who had the opportunity to share the field with Sinclair and Schmidt, said it was an emotional week.
“I think it’s been a roller coaster of emotions all week,” said Quinn, who goes by one name. “And I think people were kind of wondering how that was gonna go for them. I know people were getting teary-eyed even in our walkout today.
“And in the locker room there’s been so many moments that we’ve had today that have been quite emotional,” Quinn said. “But I think, you know, we wanted to get the job done for Sinc and Soph tonight.”
Forward Cloe Lacasse, who also plays for Arsenal, talked about the special night and what it meant to her and the team.
“Tonight was incredible. This is exactly how we wanted to send off those two legends, of course, it was so emotional just going out there, the starting 11 having Sinclair lead us out,” she said.
“I think everyone had tears in their eyes, but being able to end their careers in this incredible place — Christine Sinclair Place — with a victory, I mean, I think it’s a dream for those two and they honestly deserve it more than anyone else,” Lacasse said.