Star bio: Canada's Christine Sinclair

CHRISTINE SINCLAIR

Born: June 12, 1983, in Burnaby, B.C.

Position: Forward

Clubs played for: Vancouver Breakers, Vancouver Whitecaps, FC Gold Pride (U.S.A.), Western New York Flash (U.S.A.)

International career: Sinclair was 16 when she won her first cap with the senior team in 2000, and shot to fame two years later at the FIFA U-19 Women's World Cup in Edmonton. Sinclair helped lead Canada to a second-place finish, and earned both the Golden Boot as the leading scorer (10 goals) and Golden Ball as tournament MVP. Since then, she has become Canada's all-time leader in goals and appearances, and has played in the last two FIFA World Cups, guiding Canada to fourth place in 2003.

Why is she so special? One of the game's most prolific scorers and a talisman for Canada. As a captain who leads by example, Sinclair inspires her teammates, is universally respected by opponents and boasts an international strike rate few can match. Modest and unassuming off the field, Sinclair's drive and passion are hallmarks of her on-field persona. A clinical finisher with either foot, Sinclair has to be considered one of the great Canadian athletes of the last decade.

Her most famous moment: Sinclair scored the winning goal from the penalty spot against Mexico in the final of last year's CONCACAF championship, securing Canada's first continental crown at senior level since 1998.

She said it: "I think the thing that has sort of always separated me even from when I was younger is my ability to score goals. A lot of players tend to panic in front of the goal where as I don't. I do but it doesn't come across as I do. I think that's what's always allowed me continue to succeed."

What they're saying about her: "She's a phenomenal player and a phenomenal person and you just learn so much from her both on and off the field." — Kaylyn Kyle, Canadian teammate

Here's an interesting fact: Sinclair has won five consecutive Canadian player of the year awards (2005-2010).