Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair, the all-time leading goal-scorer in international soccer, has officially announced her retirement from the Canadian national team. At the age of 40, Sinclair has decided to conclude her illustrious international career at the end of this season.
Sinclair cryptically revealed her decision on Thursday night via Instagram, sharing a video that featured a pair of cleats swaying gently in the breeze, hanging on a goal, without any accompanying text. The following day, she penned a heartfelt letter to her 16-year-old self on social media, emphasizing her journey as a national team player and the trust she had in herself.
In her remarkable international career spanning 23 years, Sinclair scored an unprecedented 190 international goals, a record that stands as the highest among both men and women. She made her national team debut in 2000 and went on to represent Canada in 327 matches. To put her achievements in perspective, even Cristiano Ronaldo, the leading goal-scorer among men, has 127 goals to his name.
Sinclair’s legacy extends beyond her goal-scoring prowess. She is one of only five players to participate in six Women’s World Cups and one of just three players to score in five of those tournaments. Regrettably, despite her exceptional contributions, she never captured a World Cup title, with Canada failing to advance out of the group stage in the most recent edition.
Sinclair’s international career boasts Olympic gold and two bronze medals
Nonetheless, Sinclair’s international career boasts two Olympic bronze medals and an Olympic gold, secured at the Tokyo Games. Her memorable moment includes scoring the game-winning goal against Brazil, earning Canada a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
A native of Burnaby, British Columbia, Sinclair’s soccer journey began with the University of Portland, where she was a part of two NCAA championship-winning teams. Since 2013, she has played for the Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Reflecting on Sinclair’s impact, Canadian coach Bev Priestman expressed her admiration, saying, “Very few players can lace up their boots and transcend a sport both in this country and globally. Sinc has done just that — both as a player and a person.”
In recent years, Sinclair has been a vocal advocate for equal pay, a cause that she has championed alongside her teammates during contract negotiations with Canada Soccer. The team notably threatened to boycott the SheBelieves Cup earlier this year, prompting discussions and negotiations.
Winner of three NWSL championships with Portland Thorns
As Sinclair’s international career nears its conclusion, there are only two international windows left this year. Canada, currently ranked 10th in the world, is set to face Brazil on October 28 in Montreal and October 31 in Halifax. Sinclair hinted that her national team journey might come full circle, ending where it began, in a match near her hometown of Burnaby.
Sinclair has spent her entire NWSL career with the Portland Thorns, winning three NWSL championships with the team. In closing her social media post, she playfully suggested, “P.S. — Portland, how about one more year?”
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Sinclair reflected on her decision, saying, “I’ve started to catch myself thinking about going on vacation, spending time with my family, going to my cabin — that five years ago would never have crossed my mind. But at the same time, it excites me to play professionally (for Portland) but where you have one thing to focus on. It just seemed like time.”
