Matildas star Cortnee Vine glams up in stunning shoot

She went from little-known player to national hero after scoring the winning goal in the Matildas’ nailbiting World Cup penalty shootout in August – and now Cortnee Vine has made her fashion debut in a glamorous magazine cover shoot, while opening up on the “out-of-body experience” that changed her life.

Matildas star Cortnee Vine is an ambassador for the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Steven Chee for Stellar

With each passing penalty shootout attempt during Australia’s quarterfinal match against France in August, the Matildas’ chance to advance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup seemed just a stutter-step away.

That’s when Cortnee Vine, the 10th Matilda in the line-up, delivered the rocket that would propel the national side into its first World Cup semi-final – and the country into a prolonged green-and-gold fever dream.

While Vine admits that she’s since watched that kick often, the 25-year-old hasn’t reflected much on what the legacy of that moment may be.

Now, an ambassador for another major sporting event, the Melbourne Cup, Vine does just that, telling Stellar, “It was one of those things that Australia kind of needed.”

Heading into the FIFA Women’s World Cup this winter, Matildas player Cortnee Vine was just hoping to get on the field.

A forward for A-League club Sydney FC, who had made her debut with the national women’s soccer team in 2022, Vine reasoned that if even one young fan caught a glimpse of her red hair or lightning-fast speed during a game, that would bolster interest in the sport on home soil, especially as so many of her teammates have built their profiles by playing for clubs overseas.

Cortnee Vine stars on the cover of this weekend’s Stellar.

“I thought, if I get any sort of game time at the World Cup, at least people have a face in the A-League to look at post-World Cup,” she tells Stellar.

“And they might [say to themselves], ‘She’s made the Matildas and she’s still playing in the A-League. Maybe I can make the A-League?’”

No-one could have predicted just how visible Vine would become. When Australia’s quarterfinal match against France was still deadlocked at 0-0 after extra time, the team steeled itself for what would become the longest penalty shootout in men’s or women’s World Cup history.

Finally, at the 120th minute, Vine took the winning kick, prompting the crowd of 49,461 in Brisbane Stadium – and all of Australia – to erupt.

Her face, in that moment, was beamed everywhere, from the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground to local pubs, homes and even an Emirates Airlines flight.

It boggles Vine’s mind to know that an estimated 4.17 million people tuned in, making the Matildas the focus of the top-rated Australian TV event of 2023 up to that point.

Vine, who says she’s normally an anxious person, recalls of the shootout, “I thought my role was to encourage the other [shooters], so I was just present in the moment. I wasn’t thinking about what would happen if it got to me, which was probably a good thing. It got to the 10th [player] and everyone is like, ‘Whose turn is it?’ And I said, ‘It’s mine.’ It wouldn’t normally get to 10 and then it comes down to my kick.

“It was such an out-of-body experience, but I was oddly calm. Everything kind of went silent and I forgot how many people were in this stand or watching on TV or anything like that. In that moment, I was just thinking, kick the ball.”

Which she did, into the right side of the net, sending the Matildas into their first World Cup semi-final.

“It’s one of those things that you see in movies if I was the main character,” Vine said of the kick that stopped a nation. Picture: Steven Chee for Stellar

“It was bizarre,” Vine recalls of that moment.

“It’s one of those things that you see in movies if I was the main character. I was just hoping to get some minutes at the World Cup. And all of a sudden, it comes down to my kick.”

She then laughs, the exhilaration still evident in her voice as she admits she’s watched it back more times than she can count.

Even so, she adds, “I didn’t realise my world was going to change.”

Change is an understatement. Vine went from low-profile A-League player to one of the most recognisable faces in the country.

“I can’t walk down the street at the moment without someone saying, ‘Are you who I think you are?’” she reveals.

Vine has also been offered a host of media and endorsement opportunities, including her new role as an ambassador for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Her kick stopped a nation, and now Vine will be centre stage when she attends the race that stops the nation, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, next month.

“I’ve seen all the reactions of people celebrating the Matildas’ win and it’s so cool that everyone was so excited and really came together. It was one of those things Australia kind of needed, as well. It really brought everyone together.

“And that’s why I’m excited for this year’s Melbourne Cup, because that’s another major sporting event that brings Australia together,” continues Vine, who was born in Shepparton in northern Victoria.

“[It’s] something I watch every year with my family and friends. So to go and watch it live, I’m really looking forward to it.”

In anticipation of her day at the races, Vine ditched her usual soccer jersey in favour of the latest racewear for her photo shoot with Stellar.

“It’s something I [don’t] do often,” she says of dressing up in the glamorous outfits.

“And it makes me super excited to get glammed up and wear something I wouldn’t usually wear.”

Vine started playing football at the age of five to emulate her older brother Jayden. Picture: Steven Chee for Stellar

This new role wouldn’t be possible if Vine, who started playing football at the age of five to emulate her older brother Jayden, had left the country following the World Cup to sign with a European or US club, a path followed by many of her teammates.

Most Matildas returned to their overseas ports of call in less than a week – in some cases, just hours after Australia lost to Sweden in the bronze-medal play-off. Vine stayed to play in the A-League alongside her partner, fellow Sydney FC player Charlotte Mclean.

“Moving overseas is something I do want to do in my career, whether next year or the years after,” Vine reveals.

“So I’m hoping I have a bit more in me. But I’ve always wanted the opportunity to align with the right time. My relationship is really important to me, and my life in Sydney is something I value so highly. [Playing abroad] will be more of a talking point in the next few years, but I’m happy to just try to grow the game as much as I can before I do.”

Part of that effort is advocating for women players to get a pay raise. In 2015, when Vine was 16, she signed with the A-League’s Brisbane Roar, after discovering the year before that going professional was an option.

“I didn’t know there was a female team I could play with. I was playing with boys [like] I always had. But my coach told me to join a women’s league so I could get picked to play professionally,” she says.

“I got my first contract [of] $2500,” she adds, admitting it only covered the cost of petrol to get to training and games.

“But I was in Year 12, so I was excited I was being paid to play.”

While her financial circumstances have improved, she acknowledges that might not be the same for all of her teammates.

“It’s still getting better, but it’s nowhere near where it needs to be,” Vine says.

“I’m in a privileged position because I’m part of the Matildas, so I get double income. But a lot of the girls do full-time hours that would classify them as elite athletes. They do the gym, the training, the media and they’re still [also] working either part-time or full-time jobs. I don’t know how they do it.

“We did such an amazing job, and it has been fun being in Australia to soak up every minute post-World Cup,” says Vine. Picture: Steven Chee for Stellar

“Over in Europe, they get paid obviously quite a lot more, especially in England. So I think if we can see the pay in Australia increase, then the girls won’t need to move their whole life overseas if they don’t want to. I’m hoping off the back of this World Cup that the ripple effect is people start to really get around football in Australia.”

For Vine, the ripple effect of her World Cup success is having to tackle her own feelings of inadequacy head-on.

“Now that people want to hear what I have to say and I’ve got all the attention, that imposter syndrome creeps in,” she admits.

“But it’s why I want to share my story in regards to that, because I do think that people need to know that you can be feeling a certain way and still do [your job well].

“You don’t have to be this person who is very confident and motivated all the time, because that’s the impression professional athletes give. But we’re still human.”

So if it has taken a while for the impact of the Matildas’ World Cup achievements to sink in, that’s only human, too.

“My generation has been part of the big change,” Vine says.

“We’ve got to experience what the game was like when it wasn’t classified as professional and no-one really watched it, and now we’re getting to experience the other side of it.

“During the World Cup, we were in a bubble. You’re thinking about the next game and doing everything you can to prepare mentally and physically, and the mental side is usually staying out of the whole media.

“I didn’t realise what effect we had until coming out [the other side]. We did such an amazing job, and it has been fun being in Australia to soak up every minute post-World Cup.”

The Melbourne Cup Carnival runs November 4-11. For more information, visit vrc.com.au or ticketmaster.com.au.

Originally published as Matildas star Cortnee Vine glams up in stunning shoot