U.S. womens soccer players Briana Scurry (L) Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain celebrate after beating Brazil.
U.S. women#s soccer players Briana Scurry (L), Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain celebrate after beating Brazil in the gold medal match at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 26, 2004. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell

Christine Sinclair, the Canadian footballer, received the ultimate compliment from her arch-rival. U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo called Sinclair the "best player" in the world in women's football.

Solo is scheduled to face Sinclair in an encounter on Thursday, May 8 when Canada will compete against the U.S. football team. The goalkeeper said that she believed that Sinclair was the best in her "humble opinion." She said that she had the belief for a long time. Solo said that Sinclair's brilliance could not always be seen because she did not "have the support players" all the time. However, Solo thought that the Canadian player was "starting to get the support players" and she needed to "really highlight her own play."

Vancouver Sun reported that Solo ranked Sinclair even above Marta, the Brazilian footballer who received FIFA World Player of the Year for five times. She also placed her higher on the list of brilliance over her co-player Abby Wambach. It is Wambach who is the leading goal-scorer in women's football.

According to Solo, Sinclair "plays both sides of the ball." While Marta "can score goals after getting "the ball with her feet," Sinclair "reads the game, she passes, she gets assists and she's dangerous every time she gets the ball." Solo said that she had "looked up to her" and "admired her as a player for a really long time." On the other hand, Solo is not the only one who happens to be an ardent admirer of Sinclair's talent. Canadian midfielder Desiree Scott said that Sinclair was "sort of that pivotal girl" for the team. She said that Sinclair made "everything tick" while being "the one" they could rely on.

Thursday's match is going to be another acid test for Canada which defeated the U.S. football team last time in 2001. Canada presently holds the seventh position in the world ranking while the United States tops the list in women's football.