Soccer legend Christine Sinclair, widely regarded as the greatest of all time, is the star of a new animated short film titled Christine Sinclair: Kind of a Big Deal. The film, narrated by Hollywood actor and Canadian icon Ryan Reynolds, is available to stream for free on Knowledge Network's website, knowledge.ca, and on YouTube starting May 22.
A Tribute to a Legend
The 10-minute film, directed by Vancouver's Eoin Duffy, traces Sinclair's remarkable journey, highlighting her quiet leadership, humility, and hard work that shaped her legacy both on and off the pitch. Reynolds' narration adds a touch of humor and warmth, describing Sinclair as "quiet, focused, unshakable" and noting that she "changed the game by just playing it."
Sinclair holds the FIFA all-time scoring record with 190 international goals, a feat that surpasses even the greatest male players like Cristiano Ronaldo (143 goals) and Lionel Messi (115 goals). Over her 23-year career with the Canadian national team, she played in six World Cups and led Canada to three Olympic medals, including gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Behind the Animation
Duffy explained that the film uses four distinct animation styles to capture different aspects of Sinclair's life: a dynamic look for soccer sequences, a restrained cinematic approach for off-pitch moments, a softer style for family scenes, and motion graphics for informational elements. The film was produced by Vancouver-based Studio Belly Animation Inc., with animation by Hestyreps and visual direction by Henrique Barone.
Sinclair, who retired from professional soccer at the end of the 2024 National Women's Soccer League season, is now a co-owner of Vancouver Rise FC. The film includes candid moments, such as her reflection on the 2011 World Cup elimination, which she describes as "the worst 90 minutes of my life."
Stream Christine Sinclair: Kind of a Big Deal for free on knowledge.ca and YouTube.
