Smith’s football journey began at the age of five when she joined the Whitby Iroquois SC and made her debut in Canada’s youth.
By 2019, fast forward three years, she ran for the international stage in the Chongqing Invitational Tournament in China, against Brazil and New Zealand.
Smith continued to represent Canada in the COCACAF Women’s U20 Championships (2022, 2023) and two Women’s U20 World Cups (2022, 2024), and returned to the senior team in 2023 to win the choice for the World Cup that year.
She scored her first international goal in the 2024 Golden Cup 6-0 victory over El Salvador and was named the Youngest Player of the Championship.
Smith is not only seen as the successor to amulet record shooter Christine Sinclair, but it is also the key to Canada’s hope of winning international honors.
At the club level, Smith started her career in 2022, with North Toronto Nitros winning the Golden Boot Award with 18 goals in her first game in the Ontario League 1.
She then spent a season with the NCAA, playing college football with the Penn State Nitany Lions (NCAA), then waived the rest of the college’s membership to qualify as a professional, and signed a three-year contract with Sporting in July 2023.
They competed with Chelsea and PSG, and for then-head coach Mariana Cabral, Smith’s potential was obvious.
“Thirty seconds into the video, ‘Yes, let’s sign it’. She’s obviously a complete package, which is very rare,” Cabral told BBC Sport.
“She has not only technical skills, but also physical skills. She is explosive and strong, very good on the ball and can nutmeg you can surpass you like that.
“She wanted to get her career started, which is why she came to us. She liked us because of the way we played at the time – very based on owning, very aggressive – she needed a few minutes to grow.
“But we know Portugal is a stepping stone for her; she will go to a bigger place.”
In her first season in Europe, Smith accumulated 22 goals (13 goals, 9 assists) in 18 league appearances as she collected another top young player gong, while Sporting was second on the table.
She also caught the attention of Liverpool and signed before the 2024-25 season.
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