An announcement fitting for the greatest soccer player of all time.
Christine Sinclair, aka the G.O.A.T., was joined by live goats in a brightly-lit studio donned in Portland Thorns FC colours to tell the world she was coming back to the club for 2024.
The Burnaby sports legend signed a one-year deal on Monday, Jan. 22, with her National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team of the last 11 seasons.
"I’m thrilled to be back at Portland for another year and be a part of this next era of women’s soccer in the Rose City," Sinclair said in a team release.
Sinclair, 40, has led the Thorns to three championships since coming to the Pacific Northwest in 2013.
On Dec. 5, she played her last international match with Canada in a 1-0 victory over Australia before more than 42,000 people at BC Place — renamed Christine Sinclair Place for the final farewell.
Sinclair was taken out in the 12th minute of the second half, matching her iconic jersey number, to a thunderous applause.
Last season, Portland finished with a record of 10-7-5, good enough for second place in the 2023 NWSL regular season and a first-round postseason bye.
The Thorns lost 1-0 in the semifinal on their home turf at Providence Park to eventual-champions NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Sinclair wrapped up last year with three goals in 19 games while serving as Portland's captain. She's the club's all-time leader in goals (62) and appearances (176) since its inception.
"Sinc has been with this club from the beginning, she is the foundation with which Portland Thorns is built on, and as much as she is a part of the DNA of the Thorns, the Thorns are part of her DNA," said Portland general manager Karina LeBlanc, who was Sinclair's Canadian teammate of 15 years.
"She has been committed to building this league and this club, and we are thrilled to be able to have her back for another year as we begin this next era in Thorns history."
Sinclair is the all-time leading goal scorer at the international level for soccer, women or men, with 190 goals in 331 caps with Canada.
She appeared in her sixth FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia/New Zealand last summer.
In September 2023, Sinclair returned to her hometown of Burnaby for the official kick-off of the Christine Sinclair Community Centre.
The NWSL has yet to release its 2024 season schedule. However, Portland is set to play a preseason game in southern California against San Diego Wave on Feb. 24.
