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Christine Sinclair
Christine Sinclair
Christine Sinclair
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Christine Margaret Sinclair (born June 12, 1983) is a Canadian former professional soccer player. An Olympic gold medallist, two-time Olympic bronze medallist, CONCACAF champion, and 14-time winner of the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award,[8] Sinclair is officially the world's all-time leader for international goals scored for men or women with 190 goals, and is one of the most-capped international soccer players with 331 appearances.[9]

Key Information

Having played over 20 seasons with the senior national team, Sinclair has participated in six FIFA Women's World Cups (United States 2003, China 2007, Germany 2011, Canada 2015, France 2019, Australia and New Zealand 2023) and four Olympic football tournaments (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020), captaining the national team to third-place finishes in 2012 and 2016 and first place in 2020. She is one of three players to score at five World Cup editions, alongside Marta and Cristiano Ronaldo.[10]

At the club level, Sinclair has won championships with three professional teams: the 2010 WPS Championship with FC Gold Pride, the 2011 WPS Championship with Western New York Flash, and the 2013, 2017, and 2022 NWSL Championships with Portland Thorns FC. She won the national collegiate Division I championship twice (2002, 2005) with the University of Portland.[11][12]

Sinclair was shortlisted for FIFA Women's World Player of the Year seven times (2005–08, 2010, 2012, and 2016), and was referred to by college teammate and international rival Megan Rapinoe as the best player to never win the award.[13] She received the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year in 2012, the first soccer player so honoured, and was a two-time recipient of the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada's female athlete of the year (2012, 2020). In September 2013, Sinclair was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and in June 2017, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General David Johnston.[1][14] Sinclair received the Best FIFA Special Award in recognition of her status as the world's all-time leading scorer in 2022.[15] Sinclair was inducted to the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame in 2025, the first individual to have the five-year waiting period after retirement waived by the Canada Soccer Heritage and Hall of Fame Committee.[16]

Early life

[edit]

Born in Burnaby, British Columbia, to Bill and Sandra Sinclair on June 12, 1983,[17] Sinclair began playing soccer at the age of four for an under-7 team.[18][19] Her father Bill Sinclair (1972) and uncles Brian (1972) and Bruce Gant (1990) were all Canadian amateur soccer champions while Brian and Bruce also played at the professional level. Her father Bill played for the University of British Columbia and the New Westminster Blues in the Pacific Coast Soccer League.

Christine Sinclair also played basketball and baseball as a youth.[18] Playing in a Burnaby boys' baseball league, she made the local under-11 all-star team as a second baseman. With the team, she chose the number 12 as a tribute to Toronto Blue Jays' second baseman Hall of Famer, Roberto Alomar.[20]

Sinclair was selected to British Columbia's under-14 girls all-star soccer team at age 11 and led club team Burnaby Girls Soccer Club to six league titles, five provincial titles, and two top-five national finishes.[18] She attended Burnaby South Secondary School where she led the soccer team to three league championships.[18] At age 15, she attended matches of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in Portland, Oregon.[19] She played for Canada's under-18 national team before making her debut at the senior level at age 16 at the 2000 Algarve Cup where she scored three goals.[18]

College career

[edit]

In 2001, Sinclair arrived at the University of Portland where she made an immediate impact on an already formidable soccer program. She recorded 23 goals and eight assists in her first season, leading all first-year students in NCAA Division I total scoring. She was named Freshman of the Year by Soccer America,[21] and was a consensus All-America selection.[11]

"Coming into that program, (head coach) Clive (Charles) saw me as a young player, but a leader on the team. He expected a lot from me even as a freshman. I had experienced it before, being young and being in the national team travelling the world. It was such a smooth transition for me and the fact that it was a small school really helped me. I think I would've gotten lost in some of those bigger schools."

— Christine Sinclair[22]

During her second season with the Pilots in 2002, Sinclair led Division I in goals with 26.[11] She scored two goals during the national championship game against conference rival Santa Clara, the second of which was a golden goal that won the Pilots the national championship.[11] Sinclair earned three different national Player of the Year honours, and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy. Named West Coast Conference Player of the Year, she earned All-American honours for the second consecutive year.[11] In the wake of her success for the Canadian national teams and American collegiate soccer, she was named by The Globe and Mail as one of the 25 most influential people in Canadian sports the same year.[23]

Sinclair chose to redshirt the 2003 season to play for Canada at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. She returned to Portland in 2004 and scored 22 goals for the Pilots.[11] Following the season, she was named West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year, received All-American honours, and was awarded the Hermann Trophy.[24]

During Sinclair's senior year at Portland, she set an all-time Division I goal-scoring record with 39.[25] She capped off her collegiate career with two goals in a 4–0 rout of UCLA in the national title game. This performance also gave her a career total of 25 goals in NCAA tournament play,[24] also a record. She was named WCC Player of the Year becoming the second player in conference history to be honoured three times.[11] Sinclair was also named Academic All-American of the Year by ESPN The Magazine after graduating with a 3.75 grade point average in life sciences.[26] She was awarded the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy,[24] becoming the fourth player and third woman to win it in back-to-back years. As a result of her record-setting season, Sinclair went on to win the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top soccer player,[27] as well as the Honda-Broderick Cup, as the college woman athlete of the year.[28][25] She became the third soccer player to win the award, joining Mia Hamm and Cindy Daws.[29] Sinclair finished her collegiate career with 110 goals and 32 assists in 94 games.[18]

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Sinclair started her senior career as a teenager with Vancouver UBC Alumni where she won Metro Soccer League titles, the BC Cup, and a runners up medal at Canada Soccer's 2000 National Championships. She played youth soccer and high school soccer at the same time and got her first call up to Canadian youth team in 1999. She also played for the Vancouver Angels in the Women's Premier Soccer League (2000) and the Vancouver Breakers / Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL W-League.

In 2000, Sinclair helped the Vancouver Angels finish in fourth place in the WPSL, although she missed the first few matches of the season while representing Canada at the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup. She scored her first WPSL goal on 15 July 2000 in a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Ajax at Coquitlam Town Centre.

FC Gold Pride

[edit]
Sinclair (far right) with FC Gold Pride won the 2010 WPS Championship Trophy

Sinclair was selected by FC Gold Pride eighth overall in the 2008 WPS International Draft for the inaugural season of top-tier American league Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).[30] Despite her team-leading six goals,[31] FC Gold Pride finished last in the regular season standings during the 2009 season.[32]

Leading into the 2010 season, FC Gold Pride made several changes to their roster including adding Brazilian international Marta, French international Camille Abily, and United States national team defender and midfielder Shannon Boxx.[33] During the team's home opener of the 2010 season against 2009 WPS champion, Sky Blue FC, Sinclair scored twice leading the team to a 3–1 win.[34] She was named WPS Player of the Week for week 14 of the season after scoring two goals against second-place team, Philadelphia Independence.[35][36] The team dominated the season,[33] finishing first during the regular season after defeating the Philadelphia Independence 4–1 with goals from Sinclair, Marta, and Kelley O'Hara.[37]

As the regular season champion, FC Gold Pride earned a direct route to the championship playoff game where they faced the Philadelphia Independence.[38][39] Sinclair contributed two goals to FC Gold Pride's 4–0 win to clinch the WPS Championship.[40] Despite their successful season, the club ceased operations on November 16, 2010, due to not meeting the league's financial reserve requirement.[33]

Western New York Flash

[edit]

"I can't praise Christine Sinclair enough...She's just a world-class soccer player. What she has given us this year—she's given us everything."

– Aaran Lines, Western New York Flash head coach[41]

On December 10, 2010, Western New York Flash announced that they had agreed to terms with the Canadian striker for the 2011 season. Sinclair helped guide the team to the regular season championship, leading the club with ten goals and eight assists.[18] On August 27, 2011, Sinclair was named MVP of the 2011 WPS Championship Final after the Flash won the championship in Rochester, New York. Sinclair's goal in the 64th minute gave the Flash a 1–0 lead over Philadelphia. When the game was forced to penalty kicks, Sinclair stepped up and completed the second one as the Flash players converted all five of their attempts.[42]

Portland Thorns FC

[edit]
Sinclair with the Portland Thorns in 2013

On January 11, 2013, it was announced that Sinclair would play for the Portland Thorns FC for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League via the NWSL Player Allocation.[43] Sinclair said she had told the league upon its founding that she would only play in Portland.[44]

Playing as team captain, she appeared in 20 games in the 2013 season and tied with Alex Morgan as the top scorer on the team with eight goals.[45] Sinclair was named the league's Player of the Month for the month of April after scoring two goals and serving one assist to help the team secure a 2–0–1 record.[46]

After finishing third during the regular season, the Thorns advanced to the playoffs where they defeated second-place team FC Kansas City 3–2 during overtime.[47][48] During the championship final against regular season champions Western New York Flash, Sinclair scored the final goal to defeat the Flash 2–0.[49]

In the 2017 season, she led the Thorns in scoring with eight goals during the regular season, with the team finishing second. In the playoffs, she scored a goal, tying the record for NWSL playoff goals, en route to the team's second championship in the NWSL Final.[50] In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Sinclair led the Thorns with six goals, five more than any of her teammates, helping the Thorns win the NWSL Fall Series.[51]

In 2022, Sinclair captained the team to a second-place finish in the regular season and a third championship title. She set the league record for most playoff minutes played.[52]

On September 27, 2024, Sinclair announced her retirement from club soccer at the end of the 2024 NWSL season.[53]

On July 23, 2025, it was announced that Sinclair would be the first player to be inducted into the Portland Thorns Hall of Fame.[54] On October 4, 2025, she became the first person to receive this honour, and the Thorns retired her number 12 jersey from play.[55][56]

International career

[edit]

Early years and rise to captaincy (2000–2007)

[edit]

Sinclair played for Canada's under-18 national team before she got her first call up to the national team in early 2000 under newly-hired Head Coach Even Pellerud. She scored her first (unofficial) Canada goal in an exhibition match against the Metro League All-Stars.[57] She then travelled with the squad to the 2000 Algarve Cup where she was the tournament's co-second leading scorer with three goals.[18] She scored seven goals for Canada at the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, tying her for the tournament lead with Canadian team captain Charmaine Hooper and US player Tiffeny Milbrett, a fellow Portland alumna.[18] Canada finished second at the Gold Cup, qualifying them to the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.[58] The same year, Sinclair represented Canada at the inaugural FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. Her record-setting ten goals in the tournament helped lead Canada to a second-place finish and earned her both the Golden Boot as leading scorer and Golden Ball as tournament MVP.[18][58]

Canada's FIFA Women's World Cup squad for the 2003 edition in the United States was subsequently remembered for its mix of veteran players like Hooper and younger members like Sinclair, Diana Matheson, and Erin McLeod.[59][60] During the team's first group stage match against Germany, she scored the first goal of the match in the fourth minute. Germany scored four goals to defeat Canada 4–1.[61] After defeating Argentina 3–0,[62] the team faced Japan in their last group stage match of the tournament. With goals from Sinclair and teammates Christine Latham and Kara Lang, Canada won 3–1 and placed second in their group to advance to the knockout stage.[63] Canada faced defending silver medalists China in the quarterfinal match on October 2 in Portland, Oregon and won 1–0 with the lone goal scored by Hooper in the seventh minute.[64] Having remained winless in all previous World Cup tournaments, Canada's advancement to the semi-final was a historic change for the team.[63] Canada was defeated by Sweden in the semi-final match 2–1[65] and faced the United States in the third-place match where they were defeated 3–1 and finished fourth at the tournament. Sinclair scored Canada's goal in the 38th minute.[66] In all, she scored three goals for Canada on their way to a surprising fourth-place finish, their best in that competition to date.[67][18]

Following the success at the World Cup, Sinclair and her teammates had high expectations of qualifying to the women's tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. However, they were defeated by Mexico in the qualifying tournament semi-final, and thus did not obtain one of the two berths allotted to CONCACAF.[68]

Sinclair's rapid ascendancy within the team was accelerated further by a major controversy between coach Even Pellerud and veteran players Hooper, Christine Latham and Sharolta Nonen, with the latter publicly attacking the former's management of the team and alleged interference in domestic club matters. As a result, Pellerud did not include the players in the roster, and Sinclair was named captain of the team in advance of the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.[69] Subsequent arbitration sided with Pellerud, marking the end of the twenty-year national team career of Hooper. Sinclair opined that "it's an unfortunate way to go out but that's her choice."[70]

Canada's results at the Gold Cup qualified them for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China. During Canada's first group stage match, the team faced Norway and were defeated 2–1.[71] Sinclair scored a brace in the team's next group stage match against Ghana helping Canada win 4–0.[72] She scored another goal in the 85th minute of the team's final group stage match against Australia, which would have been sufficient to advance to the knockout stage had it held, but Australia equalized in stoppage time and Canada exited the tournament.[73][74][58][60] Later in the year, Sinclair led the team to a bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Games.[58]

Olympic debut, CONCACAF gold, and World Cup nadir (2008–2011)

[edit]

In a rematch of the Olympic qualifying semi-final of four years' prior, Canada defeated Mexico in the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, reaching the Olympic Games for the first time after finishing second to the United States in the event final. Sinclair said it "was sweet revenge, absolutely perfect."[68] In China, Canada advanced out of the group stage before being defeated by the United States, the eventual gold medalists, in their quarter-final match, with Sinclair scoring Canada's lone goal in the 2–1 loss. Despite this, she said "we did pretty well," while adding "obviously we would have liked to go farther."[75]

Appearing in a friendly match against Poland on February 20, 2010, Sinclair scored her 100th career goal and broke the Canadian women's national team appearance record of 132 previously set by former teammate Andrea Neil.[76] She was the first Canadian, and tenth woman overall, to score 100 international goals.[58] Later in the year, at the 2010 CONCACAF Women's Championship, the team reached the event final, where Sinclair scored the game-winning goal in a victory over Mexico. This was the first major championship title of Sinclair's national team career, and qualified them to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[77][78][18] Upon receiving her sixth consecutive award as Canadian player of the year, she said that "there's no doubt in my mind that we can do some damage at the World Cup."[77]

The leadup to the 2011 World Cup was dogged by disputes with the Canadian Soccer Association over funding the compensation issues, which prompted coach Carolina Morace to announce that she would leave her post following the end of the tournament. Sinclair led the players on strike in support of Morace.[79] Ultimately, Morace agreed to continue after negotiations.[80]

At the World Cup, Canada faced host nation Germany in its opening game, losing 2–1. Despite having her nose broken by an elbow from a German defender, Sinclair refused to be taken out of the game and scored Canada's lone goal of the game.[81] The broken nose required Sinclair to wear a protective mask for the remainder of the tournament which hampered her play since she could not see properly.[82] The next game was a 4–0 rout at the hands of France that formally eliminated Canada from the tournament.[83] She would later describe it was "the lowest point in my soccer career, the worst game I'd ever seen our team play."[84] They went on to lose 1–0 to Nigeria, leaving Sinclair's goal against Germany as the team's only one in the tournament.[85]

Following the disappointment in Germany, Morace unexpecteldy quit and was replaced by John Herdman, who made it a priority to revive team morale.[86][87] He would regularly cite photographs of Sinclair's "deflated" expression after the loss to France as a motivation to improve the team's performance.[84] Later the same year, Sinclair and the team won gold at the 2011 Pan American Games.[58] She also served as the Canadian flagbearer at the opening ceremonies.[88]

London Olympics (2012)

[edit]

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London began in unpromising fashion for the Canadian team, who lost their opening game to Japan. After defeating South Africa and drawing Sweden, Canada nevertheless advanced out of the group stage as the third seed, led by performances from Sinclair and Melissa Tancredi.[78] Sinclair scored two goals against the South Africans.[89] Canada faced host nation Great Britain in the quarter-final, defeating them 2–0, with Sinclair scoring the second goal of the match.[90]

The Olympic semi-final was held at the historic Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C., on August 6. Canada faced its longtime rival the United States, with the latter heavily favoured. Sinclair scored the match's opening goal in the first half, beginning a back-and-forth with the Americans that saw the game tied at 3–3 at the end of regulation, Sinclair having recorded a hat-trick, before Alex Morgan scored the game-winning goal for the United States in extra time.[91] The game was both widely praised and extremely controversial, with The Guardian declaring it "the greatest knockout match in major-tournament football since 1982."[92] American publications dubbed it "one of the best games ever"[93] and "an instant classic."[94] Controversy, meanwhile, related to the performance of referee Christina Pedersen, who made a series of calls in favour of the Americans, most notably what some characterized as a "a peculiarly harsh decision" against Canadian goalkeeper McLeod for holding onto the ball for supposed time wasting, the beginning of a series of events that led to the game being tied again on a US penalty shot.[92]

Sinclair and others on the team, including coach Herdman, harshly criticized Pedersen's officiating after the match was completed, with the captain stating "we feel cheated. It's a shame that in a game as important as that, the ref decided the result before it started."[95] Pedersen claimed that she had overheard Sinclair calling her a "fucking whore" following the game at Old Trafford, which Sinclair denied, stating that she had said "fucking horrible."[96] The latter was referred for a disciplinary hearing after the Games, but Sinclair remained able to play pending said hearing, helping the team to a bronze medal victory over France.[97][84]

With six goals in the tournament, Sinclair was awarded the Golden Boot.[58] In recognition of her achievements at the Games, Sinclair was named Canada's flag bearer for the closing ceremonies,[98] and on the day of the ceremonies she was also awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[99] Further honours came in the following months, including the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canadian athlete of the year, and the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award from The Canadian Press as their choice for Canadian female athlete of the year. She was, in both instances, the first soccer player recipient.[100][101] She was also named Athlete of the Year by Sportsnet.[102] The London Olympics significantly raised Sinclair's profile both within Canada and internationally.[84][96][103] The New York Times dubbed her the "face of soccer in Canada".[84]

Sinclair's alleged comments to Pedersen ultimately led to her fined a reported $3,500 for "unsporting behaviour" and suspended from four international games.[104] For her part, she claimed "I don't regret what I said."[105]

Home World Cup and Rio Olympics (2013–2016)

[edit]

After serving her suspension after the London Olympics, Sinclair returned to the pitch midway through the 2013 Cyprus Women's Cup, scoring the game-winning goal against Finland.[106] She later made her 200th appearance on December 12, 2013, scoring her 147th international goal in a 2–0 win over Scotland at the 2013 Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo.[107]

With the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup to be hosted in Canada, Sinclair's new celebrity put her even more so in the spotlight in the leadup, including being featured on a Canada Post-issued commemorative stamp.[84] In light of the team's last-place finish in 2011 and its subsequent bronze medal at the Olympics, there were expectations on the team to perform on home soil.[108][109] Sinclair scored Canada's only goal of the first group stage match against China, a 1–0 win, during a penalty kick awarded in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.[110] Canada drew its remaining two group stage matches, but finished first in the group and faced Switzerland in the Round of 16. Defeating the Swiss 1–0 in the opening of the knockout stage, Canada advanced to face England.[111] In the quarter-final, Sinclair scored Canada's lone goal in the 42nd minute, with Canada ultimately losing the match 2–1.[112]

Following this underwhelming result at home, Canada focused on qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The team reached the final of the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, thereby qualifying to the Olympic Games, and losing the championship match to the United States 2–0. Sinclair played through a calf injury during the tournament, and only featured in the final game as a substitute in the second half, but still surpassed American Mia Hamm for second place on the international goal-scoring standings.[113] A month later, Sinclair led Canada to victory at the 2016 edition of the Algarve Cup, the event she had made her senior debut at 16 years earlier. Canada defeated Olympic host nation Brazil in the final.[114]

At the Olympic women's tournament, Canada swept its three group stage games, culminating in a historic win over Germany that broke a 12-game, 22-year losing streak. Sinclair did not see the pitch for the latter game, resting in anticipation of the knockout rounds.[115] Canada defeated France in the quarter-final, but was defeated in a semi-final rematch with Germany by 2–1.[116] Playing in the bronze medal game for the second consecutive Olympics, Sinclair scored the game-winning goal against Brazil.[117]

World Cup disappointment and international goals record (2017–2020)

[edit]

While discussions about potential successors for Sinclair's role on the national team had been underway since early in the 2010s,[118] by the leadup to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, with Sinclair now age 35 the prospect of her eventual retirement attracted more discussion.[119] However, she was by this point closing in on the international goals record long held by American Abby Wambach. She scored her 181st goal in a pre-tournament friendly against Mexico, putting her only four away from Wambach's 184.[120][121]

At the World Cup, hosted by France, Canada narrowly defeated Cameroon in its opening group stage match, albeit with a performance that was faulted by some commentators for difficulty in creating chances to score by players other than Sinclair.[122] After defeating New Zealand, Canada faced the Netherlands in its final group match. Sinclair scored Canada's lone goal in a 2–1 loss, her tenth goal in five different World Cup editions, equalling the achievement first accomplished by Brazilian Marta seven days earlier.[123] Facing Sweden in the Round of 16, Canada was down 1–0 when they were awarded a penalty after a hand ball by a Swedish defender. While Sinclair commonly took penalties for the team, in this instance she was aware that Swedish keeper Hedvig Lindahl had saved her penalty attempt at the Algarve Cup the previous March, and opted to have Janine Beckie take it instead.[124] Beckie's attempt was saved by Lindahl, and Canada were ultimately eliminated.[125] Sinclair's decision was the subject of much debate, with some comparing it to the much-criticized decision not to have Wayne Gretzky participate in a game-deciding shootout at the ice hockey tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.[124][126] The performance of the national team was widely critiqued in the aftermath of the event, with many commentators faulting the lack of goal-scoring threat from players other than Sinclair.[127][128] The Canadian Press remarked that "the remarkable Sinclair is in the twilight of her career. Some time sooner than later, she will walk away for good. Monday proved how difficult that will be."[129]

Continuing her pursuit of the international goals record through the Qualifying Championship for the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sinclair scored international goals 184 and 185 against St. Kitts and Nevis to tie and then surpass Wambach for first place in international goals by either men or women.[9][130] She avowed that "for me it has nothing to do with the record, it's to have young girls be able to dream of playing professionally or represent their country, win Olympic medals. To inspire young girls to pursue their crazy, wild dreams, it's pretty cool."[131] Canada reached the tournament final, thereby qualifying for the Olympics, and lost 3–0 to the United States in the final.[132]

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shift of the entire global sporting calendar, including the delay of the Olympics by a full year.[133] At the end of 2020, she received her second Bobbie Rosenfeld Award, in recognition of her international goal-scoring record. Globe & Mail editor Phil King opined "when the history of women's sports is written in this country, Christine Sinclair deserves her own chapter."[134] That same month she was honoured at The Best FIFA Football Awards.[15][135] Her 185th international goal was named Canada Soccer's Moment of the Year[136]

Olympic gold (2021)

[edit]

On July 21, 2021, Sinclair played her 300th match for Canada, in which she scored a goal in a 1–1 draw against hosts Japan in the team's opening match of the Olympic women's tournament in Tokyo.[137] Canada accumulated one win and two tied games during group play, before advancing to face Brazil in the quarter-final. Scoreless during regular play, Canada prevailed in the shootout 4–3, despite Sinclair being denied on the opening attempt.[138] Following this, Sinclair advised coach Bev Priestman that future penalties in the tournament should be taken by midfielder Jessie Fleming.[139]

Canada faced the United States in the semi-final on August 2, a rematch of the 2012 Olympic semi-final. With the game tied 0–0 in the second half, a penalty was drawn by Deanne Rose for Canada, and Sinclair delivered the ball to Fleming, a gesture that was taken to be an on-the-spot decision by many observers at the time.[139][140] As Fleming was considered by many to be the team's best younger player, Sinclair later wrote that "some people interpreted me handing Jessie the ball as a passing of the torch. Sometimes people read too much into things."[139] Fleming scored, with Canada going on to win the game 1–0 and advance to the Olympic final for the first time in the team's history. This was also their first victory over the United States in twenty years.[141] In reference to the London Olympics, Sinclair opined afterward that "it was nice to get a little revenge."[142]

The greatest testament to what she has meant to Canadian soccer may well be the fact that in the biggest victory of her career, she wasn't her team's best player on the night. At age 38, she couldn't be. Keeper Stephanie Labbé took that honour in the end, but Jessie Fleming and Ashley Laurence and Kadeisha Buchanan and Vanessa Gilles and Desiree Scott – who was once one of the kids and is now one of the greybeards – all had more influence on the play.

– Stephen Brunt, Sportsnet[143]

In the final against Sweden on August 6, Sinclair won a penalty, which was once again converted by Fleming to tie the game in the second half of regulation time. Following a 1–1 draw after extra-time, Canada eventually won the match 3–2 on penalty kicks to capture the gold medal in women's soccer for the first time.[144][145] Sinclair was substituted before extra time, her place taken by Jordyn Huitema, and she thus did not feature among the team's participants in the penalty kicks. The Canadian team's victory was widely hailed as the most important moment in its history, and of Canadian soccer in general. Sinclair had not played as large a role on-field as she had for most of her career, with Cathal Kelly of The Globe & Mail describing her as "first in our hearts and fourth or fifth on the depth chart."[146] However, both Kelly and other commentators unanimously attributed the team's success to Sinclair's long career and leadership.[143][147][146]

Having already been honoured at the Best FIFA Football Awards the previous year, at the 2021 edition she received a Special Award for her goal-scoring record, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who had recently set the men's record for the same.[148]

Federation conflicts, sixth World Cup, and retirement (2022–2023)

[edit]

The Tokyo Olympics marked the beginning of a change in Sinclair's usage; the semi-final against the United States was the final international game in which she played a full 90 minutes.[149] Following the Games, she and a number of other veterans became increasingly vocal about the need to establish a women's domestic professional league in Canada, arguing that it was essential to all the national team to keep pace with rival teams and to create more opportunities for the nation's female players.[150] Sinclair described it as "a disaster to not have a professional league in the country that just won the Olympic Games."[151] In December 2022, she and former teammate Diana Matheson announced plans to launch a league in 2025, with Matheson taking the lead in organizing it. Sinclair faulted the lack of any progress by the Canada Soccer Association in establishing a professional league in the decade since the London Olympics.[152][153]

In addition to issues surrounding the lack of a professional league, Sinclair took the lead in conflicts with the federation over the women's national team's funding and compensation. The team announced that it would not participate in the 2023 SheBelieves Cup in February 2023, but went ahead with the tournament after Canada Soccer threatened legal action against them.[154] With morale low, the team performed poorly and finished last among the four participants.[155] The following month, Sinclair testified before a House of Commons standing committee, denouncing the federation's treatment of the team and saying that she had been personally insulted by former federation president Nick Bontis.[156] Bontis would subsequently issue a public apology.[157]

Sinclair was named to the Canadian squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, her sixth edition of the tournament, and generally presumed to be her last.[158] As the defending Olympic champions, Canada was among the pre-tournament favourites. Canada was drawn into a group that included host nation Australia.[159] Canada opened the tournament with its third World Cup meeting with Nigeria. Sinclair drew a penalty after being fouled in the box, but with Fleming absent due to injury concerns, she herself took it. Her attempt was saved by Chiamaka Nnadozie, and as the match ended in a 0–0 draw, this came to be seen as a pivotal moment in the outcome.[160] In a reverse of the 2019 World Cup penalty attempt by Beckie, commentators debated whether it was a mistake for Sinclair to take the penalty.[161][162] Sinclair did not start against Ireland, the first time in her career she had not been in the starting line-up for Canada at the World Cup, but came off the bench for the second half. She was generally credited for helping Canada come back to win 2–1 after a poor first half.[163] Sinclair started in the final group match against Australia, with Canada only requiring draw to qualify for the knockout stage. However, Sinclair was substituted at half-time as Canada trailed 2–0 and ending up losing 4–0, eliminating them from the tournament. Sinclair was observed gathering blades of grass from the field, acknowledging when asked that this was "probably" her final World Cup appearance.[164] Following the loss, Sinclair renewed her previous public warnings about the need for greater resources for women's soccer in Canada.[165]

Following the disappointment in Australia, coach Priestman made significant alterations to the team's composition in advance of their next fixtures, the two-legged CONCACAF Olympic qualification playoff against Jamaica in September. Sinclair did not play in the first match, and came off the bench to play thirty minutes in the second match at BMO Field. Canada won both matches, securing its fifth consecutive Olympic appearance. Priestman revealed afterward that "Christine told me I want to get this team to the Olympics. … After this window, we'll sit down, we'll reflect."[166]

I can sit here and know that I've literally done everything I can and given all of me to this national team since I was 16 years old. In terms of what I've done and knowing the work I've put into it, I have zero regrets. I know I've done everything I can for as long as I can. And the team's in good hands moving forward.

– Christine Sinclair[167]

On October 20, Sinclair announced that she would retire from international soccer in December 2023.[167] She subsequently revealed that she "was going to walk off and not say a word and just be done" after the Olympic qualifiers, but following the federation scheduling four friendlies in Montreal, Halifax, Victoria and Vancouver, she was persuaded to play in what was widely described as a "farewell tour."[168] Sinclair played in her final international match on December 5, a 1–0 victory in a friendly versus Australia, held at BC Place in Vancouver. In recognition of her achievements, the stadium was renamed "Christine Sinclair Place" for the day.[169] Sinclair started the match, and was involved in Quinn's game-winning goal. She was substituted in favour of Sophie Schmidt, also making her final international appearance, in the 58th minute. The match was attended by 48,112 people, a record audience for a women's friendly in Canada.[170] At the time of her retirement, Sinclair's 331 international caps was the second-most of all time, behind only American Kristine Lilly.[13]

Personal life

[edit]

Described as a highly private individual, Sinclair is known for largely avoiding discussions of her personal life outside of certain causes.[171][172][173] Since 2017, she has been active in fundraising for research and treatment of multiple sclerosis, which her mother suffered from.[174][173] Her mother's death in February 2022 prompted Sinclair to write Playing the Long Game: A Memoir, her first extensive account of her life and career.[173][175]

Among other honours received in her career, Sinclair was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2013.[176] She received an honorary degree from Simon Fraser University later in the same year.[177] In 2015, Sinclair, along with teammate Kadeisha Buchanan, was featured on a Canadian postage stamp commemorating the 2015 Women's World Cup hosted by Canada.[178] On June 30, 2017, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, the second-highest award a civilian can receive,[179] with investiture of the award on January 24, 2018.[180] Of the honour she said, "I am a very, very proud Canadian, I am proud of where I am from, and to be recognized in this nature is surreal. It's not something you can dream about happening to you. I can dream of winning a World Cup or an Olympic gold medal, and that's my job, but to have your country recognize you – I don't even know what to say."[179]

In June 2021, her home city of Burnaby announced that they would be renaming the Fortius Sport and Health Facilities in her honour, the Facilities becoming the Christine Sinclair Community Centre.[181]

In December 2023, one day after her final international game for Canada, Sinclair launched the Christine Sinclair Foundation, which held its inaugural summit in December 2024 at the National Soccer Development Centre in Vancouver.[182] The organization's mandate is to empower and support girls to pursue pathways in soccer.[183][184]

On October 7, 2024, it was announced that Sinclair would join the ownership group for Vancouver Rise FC of the Northern Super League.[185] The club won the inaugural Diana B. Matheson Cup on November 15, 2025.[186]

Player profile

[edit]

Style of play

[edit]

Widely regarded as Canada's greatest soccer player of all time[187] and one of the foremost soccer players in history.[188][189][190] Sinclair is a fast, well-rounded, physically strong, and intelligent forward, known for her ball skills, athleticism, technique, and field vision.[187][8] An accurate finisher and a highly prolific goalscorer,[191] she is a versatile and hard-working player who is capable of playing both as a striker and also as an advanced playmaker in midfield, due to her passing accuracy, ability to read the game, link-up with other midfielders, and creation of chances for teammates.[189][8][192] Sinclair is also capable of scoring from free-kicks and penalties.[187][188] Moreover, she has been labelled as a "big game" player in the media,[193] due to her penchant for scoring goals in important games for her country, as illustrated by her hat-trick against the United States in the semi-finals of the 2012 Olympic Games.[194][195] In addition to her soccer abilities, she has stood out for her leadership and defensive work-rate throughout her career.[189][191][196]

[edit]

Television and film

[edit]

Sinclair was the focus of a digital short documentary entitled The Captain in 2012.[197] She was featured in an episode of The Difference Makers with Rick Hansen the same year.[198] In May 2015, she was featured in the TSN documentary, RISE, along with the rest of the Canadian national team.[199][200] She starred in a national television commercial for Coca-Cola during the summer of 2015.[201]

Magazines

[edit]

Sinclair was featured on the cover of the June 2013 issue of The Walrus.[202] She was featured Sportsnet Magazine in the edition dated June 8, 2015.[19] She was featured on the covers of Ottawa Life Magazine (May/June 2015),[203] FACES Magazine (December 2015),[204] and Canadian Business (August 2016).[205]

Other work

[edit]

Sinclair was featured on the Canadian version of EA Sports' FIFA 16 (2016) video game. Along with Portland Thorns FC teammates Alex Morgan and Steph Catley, Sinclair was one of the first women to appear on the cover of any EA Sports game.[206] In July 2017, Sinclair partnered with A&W and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada on a nationwide awareness campaign for multiple sclerosis.[207][208]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played November 10, 2024[209]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League League cup[a] Playoffs Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Gold Pride 2009 WPS 17 6 — 0 0 — 17 6
2010 23 12 — 1 0 — 24 12
Total 40 18 0 0 1 0 0 0 41 18
Western New York Flash 2011 WPS 15 10 — 1 1 — 16 11
Portland Thorns FC 2013 NWSL 20 8 — 2 1 — 22 9
2014 23 7 — 1 0 — 24 7
2015 9 2 — 0 0 — 9 2
2016 11 6 — 1 1 — 12 7
2017 24 8 — 2 1 — 26 9
2018 24 9 — 2 0 — 26 9
2019 17 9 — 1 0 — 18 9
2020 4 6 6 0 0 0 — 10 6
2021 15 5 3 2 0 0 — 18 7
2022 14 5 5 1 2 0 — 21 6
2023 19 3 2 0 1 0 — 22 3
2024 24 4 3 1 1 0 3 3 31 8
Total 204 82 19 4 13 3 3 3 239 92
Career total 259 100 16 3 15 4 3 3 293 110
  1. ^ NWSL Challenge Cup started in 2020

International

[edit]
See also: List of international goals scored by Christine Sinclair


Honours

[edit]

University of Portland Pilots

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

FC Gold Pride

Western New York Flash

Portland Thorns FC

Canada

Individual

Orders

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Christine Sinclair

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Christine Margaret Sinclair (born June 12, 1983) is a retired Canadian professional soccer forward renowned for her prolific scoring record with the Canada women's national team. She amassed 190 international goals across 331 matches, establishing the all-time record for goals in senior international soccer by any player, surpassing previous benchmarks set in men's and women's competitions alike. As captain, Sinclair led Canada to Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games—marking the nation's first in women's soccer—and bronze medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, while also guiding the team to consistent FIFA Women's World Cup appearances. Her club career included stints with the Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer League, where she contributed to multiple playoff runs, and earlier professional teams like FC Gold Pride, securing a Women's Professional Soccer championship in 2010. Sinclair announced her international retirement in December 2023 following a final match against Australia, concluding a career that spanned over two decades and elevated women's soccer visibility in Canada.

Early Life and Background

Family and Childhood Influences

Christine Sinclair was born on June 12, 1983, in , , to parents Bill and Sandra Sinclair, both of whom were actively involved in sports. Her father, Bill, had competed in soccer at the university level and with the Blues of the Soccer League, later serving as team manager for the Vancouver Firefighters FC, which secured Canada Soccer National Championships in 1983—when Sinclair was an infant—and 1990. This familial engagement in organized athletics created an environment that prioritized physical activity and competition from an early age. Sinclair grew up alongside her brother Mike in a household where sports were central, fostering a competitive dynamic among siblings that emphasized resilience and effort. Prior to soccer becoming her primary pursuit around age 11, she participated in and , experiences that contributed to developing her foundational , coordination, and through diverse physical demands and team-oriented challenges. These early multi-sport exposures in Burnaby's suburban setting, distinct from structured soccer training, laid the groundwork for her later athletic tenacity without the tactical intensity of competitive play.

Introduction to Soccer and Youth Development

Christine Sinclair began playing organized soccer at age four with the South Burnaby Metro Club's under-seven team in , , inspired by her older brother Michael, who also played the sport. This early involvement in local recreational play laid the foundation for her development, as she balanced soccer with other activities like and during her childhood. By elementary school age, Sinclair transitioned to competitive club soccer with the Burnaby Girls Soccer Club, where she demonstrated rapid progression and contributed to the team's success, including six league championships and five provincial titles. Her precocity became evident at age 11, when she was selected for British Columbia's under-14 girls' all-star provincial team, ahead of typical age-group peers, marking her as a standout talent in regional youth ranks. This selection highlighted her early technical skills and goal-scoring ability, as she rose quickly through provincial development pathways, earning recognition as a player to watch. In her mid-teens, Sinclair's performances led to invitations to Canadian national youth training camps, culminating in her debut with the Canadian youth program at age 16 in 1999 under coach Tom McManus. These experiences honed her foundational skills in a structured environment, emphasizing tactical awareness and finishing, while she continued to score prolifically in provincial and club competitions, setting the stage for her elite-level trajectory without yet entering senior international play.

Collegiate Career

University of Portland Tenure

Sinclair began her collegiate career at the in 2001 at the age of 16, leveraging early eligibility to join the Pilots' women's soccer program. Over five seasons (2001–2005), she balanced rigorous academics—earning (WCC) Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors—with exceptional athletic performance, scoring 110 goals and providing 32 assists in 94 appearances, totals that remain program records. This output introduced her to sustained high-level competition in , where she faced top recruits and adapted to the physical and tactical demands of American , contributing to the Pilots' emergence as a national powerhouse. Individually, Sinclair dominated scoring charts, leading in goals twice: 26 in 2002 as a and a single-season record 39 in 2005 during her fifth year. She earned four All-American selections, NCAA Player of the Year honors in 2002 and 2004, and 2001 Freshman of the Year recognition, while securing WCC Player of the Year three times. These accolades underscored her efficiency and versatility as a forward, often delivering in clutch moments, such as the golden goal in the 2002 College Cup semifinal. On the team front, Sinclair's contributions propelled the Pilots to two NCAA national championships (, 2005) and multiple WCC regular-season titles, including the 2005 conference crown en route to an undefeated season. Her presence elevated the program's profile, fostering a winning culture that attracted elite talent and emphasized disciplined play, though her international commitments occasionally required managing dual demands without redshirting seasons. This era marked her transition from youth prodigy to collegiate elite, honing skills transferable to professional levels while maintaining academic standing in life sciences.

Key Achievements and Records

Sinclair's freshman season in 2001 featured 23 goals and eight assists, earning her the Soccer America Freshman Player of the Year award and recognition as the NCAA Freshman of the Year. Her sophomore year produced 26 goals and eight assists, leading Division I scoring and helping secure the 2002 NCAA national championship, where she scored both goals in the final, including the game-winner in double overtime. In her senior year of 2005, Sinclair set the single-season goals record with 39 in 25 games, surpassing Lisa Cole's 1987 mark of 37; this achievement also yielded 88 points, the second-highest single-season total in NCAA history at the time. Over her four seasons, she tallied 110 goals and 32 assists across 94 matches, powering the Pilots to a second national title in 2005. Sinclair received four selections and claimed the M.A.C. —college soccer's premier individual award—in 2004 and 2005, joining only two other women in winning it consecutively. In NCAA postseason play, she set the tournament goals record with 10 across six games and established a single-tournament points mark of 21 in 2002, breaking Mia Hamm's prior record of 16. These benchmarks, verified through official NCAA statistics, reflect her unparalleled scoring efficiency and direct contributions to team success.

Club Career

Early Professional Experience

Sinclair began her semi-professional career in 2001 by joining the Vancouver Breakers of the USL W-League, alongside other members of Canada's senior national team. Over 10 appearances in the 2001–02 season with the Breakers, she scored 9 goals, establishing herself as the team's leading scorer despite limited matches amid her concurrent collegiate commitments. The Breakers transitioned into the Vancouver Whitecaps Women, with Sinclair rejoining the club in 2006 after completing her university tenure. That season, she netted 10 goals across 21 games, again leading Whitecaps in scoring while contributing to their USL W-League championship victory, for which she received tournament MVP recognition.

WPS and NWSL Eras

Christine Sinclair entered professional soccer with after being selected eighth overall in the 2009 (WPS) International Draft. She appeared in 40 matches across the 2009 and 2010 seasons, scoring 16 goals and providing 10 assists, contributing to the team's regular-season success in 2010. In the 2010 WPS Championship final on October 27, Sinclair scored two goals in a 4–0 victory over the , securing the title for . Following the folding of after the 2010 season due to financial difficulties, Sinclair signed with the for the 2011 WPS campaign. With the Flash, she played 15 matches and scored 10 goals, tying for the team lead in scoring alongside Marta. The Flash clinched both the regular-season title and the WPS Championship on August 27, 2011, defeating the 1–0 in the final, where Sinclair was named MVP for her pivotal contributions throughout the . Her performance underscored her adaptability in a league marked by ownership instability and limited resources. Over three WPS seasons from 2009 to 2011, Sinclair amassed 26 goals in 55 appearances across both clubs, averaging over 0.47 goals per match despite the league's operational challenges. The WPS suspended operations in January 2012 and folded permanently in May 2012 after , citing financial insolvency and inability to secure stable investment, leaving a void until the (NWSL) launched in 2013.

Portland Thorns FC Dominance

Christine Sinclair joined the as a founding member in 2013 for the league's inaugural (NWSL) season. Over 11 seasons, she established herself as the club's cornerstone player, amassing 62 goals in 176 regular-season appearances and serving as captain during key periods of success. Her scoring prowess and leadership were instrumental in the Thorns' achievements, including three NWSL Championships in 2013, 2017, and 2022, along with the 2021 and . As the only player to participate in every major Thorns title win, Sinclair's consistency underscored the team's dominance in the NWSL. She holds the franchise record for career goals, surpassing 60 by the end of her tenure, and contributed significantly to playoff runs, including scoring in high-stakes matches. Her role extended beyond statistics, fostering a culture of resilience and professionalism that propelled Portland to repeated contention. Sinclair announced her retirement from club soccer on September 27, 2024, concluding her professional career after the 2024 NWSL season, during which she made over 200 appearances for the Thorns across all competitions. In her final regular-season game on November 4, 2024, she scored, helping secure a 3-0 victory and a playoff berth, capping a legacy of sustained excellence. Her departure marked the end of an era, with the club honoring her as its inaugural Hall of Fame inductee and retiring her No. 12 jersey.

International Career

Emergence and Captaincy (2000–2007)

Sinclair first represented at the youth international level with the under-18 national team before earning a senior call-up at age 16. She made her senior debut on March 12, 2000, in a 4-0 loss to at the in , becoming Canada's youngest-ever senior player at the time. Two days later, on March 14, 2000, she scored her first senior international goal during the same tournament, contributing to finishing fourth overall. Her youth international prominence peaked at the inaugural 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship, hosted in , , where Sinclair led the tournament with 11 goals in six matches, including a five-goal haul against , earning the Golden Boot as top scorer. This performance solidified her transition to the senior squad, where she balanced youth and senior duties while accumulating goals steadily; by mid-2007, she had surpassed Charmaine Hooper's national record with her 72nd international goal on July 14 against , having scored 16 goals that season alone. Sinclair's leadership qualities emerged in the mid-2000s, as evidenced by her appointment as for Canada's Women's Gold Cup campaign at age 23, reflecting coaches' trust in her maturity and on-field influence despite her relative youth. This early captaincy role laid the groundwork for her long-term stewardship of the team, emphasizing consistent scoring output and tactical reliability in developmental matches and regional competitions through 2007.

Olympic Debut and Early Major Tournaments (2008–2012)

Sinclair captained at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, marking the nation's debut in women's Olympic soccer. In the group stage opener against on August 6, she scored her first Olympic goal, contributing to a 2-0 victory that helped advance as runners-up in Group E. reached the quarterfinals but lost 2-1 to the top-ranked before securing bronze with a 1-0 win over in the consolation match, where Sinclair's leadership underscored her role amid rising team expectations. At the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, Sinclair scored twice despite a broken nose sustained early in the tournament. Her free-kick goal in a 2-1 group stage loss to hosts Germany on June 30 came just six minutes in, while a penalty secured a 1-0 win over Nigeria on June 26; however, a 4-0 defeat to France on July 5 left Canada third in Group A with three points and a -5 goal difference, resulting in a group stage exit and the team's worst major tournament finish to date. The performance drew scrutiny for defensive tactics under coach Carolina Morace, which limited offensive output beyond Sinclair's contributions. Sinclair's captaincy was further entrenched during the 2012 London Olympics, where she set an Olympic record with six goals en route to another . topped Group F after wins over (3-0, Sinclair scoring twice) and (4-1, Sinclair two goals), followed by a 1-0 quarterfinal upset of host . In the semifinal against the on August 6, Sinclair netted a in a 4-3 extra-time loss, showcasing individual brilliance amid team resilience; then defeated 1-0 in the match on August 9. Her tournament exploits, including direct involvement in over 65% of 's goals that year, solidified her as the program's cornerstone as expectations intensified for consistent medal contention.

Sustained Excellence and Olympic Gold (2013–2016)

During the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted across Canada from June 6 to July 5, the national team advanced to the quarterfinals under Sinclair's captaincy, marking their deepest run in a home tournament. In the group stage opener on June 6 before a record crowd of 53,058 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Sinclair converted a penalty in stoppage time (90+2') to secure a 1-0 victory over China PR. She added her second tournament goal in the round-of-16 win over Switzerland on June 18, heading in a corner for a 1-0 result in Vancouver, advancing Canada past the group stage despite losses to the Netherlands (1-2) and a draw-equivalent progression. The quarterfinal against England on June 27 ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time, with Sinclair scoring Canada's second goal, but a 5-4 penalty shootout loss eliminated the hosts, who had benefited from the tournament's unprecedented attendance exceeding 1.35 million total spectators. Sinclair's consistent scoring underpinned Canada's emergence as an Olympic powerhouse, with her tally reaching 13 international goals in 13 appearances in and 11 in 11 matches in 2014, maintaining offensive potency amid defensive solidity. In the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Championship, she netted a crucial goal in a 3-1 semifinal win over on February 19, clinching qualification for Rio. At the Rio Olympics from August 3 to 19, Canada secured a second consecutive , defeating 2-1 in the bronze-medal match on August 19, where Sinclair scored the decisive 89th-minute goal to salvage hardware after a 2-1 semifinal loss to . This performance, including group-stage progression and a quarterfinal shutout of (1-0), affirmed Canada's status as a medal contender, with Sinclair's fostering resilience in high-stakes knockout scenarios. Across these campaigns, Sinclair contributed at least 10 goals in major tournaments from 2013 to 2016, exemplifying sustained excellence through clutch finishes and aerial prowess, while the team's tactical discipline under coach elevated them beyond underdog status to consistent quarterfinal-plus threats in global events.

Record Pursuit and World Cup Challenges (2017–2020)

During this period, Christine Sinclair intensified her pursuit of Abby Wambach's all-time women's international soccer goal record of 184, scoring steadily despite 's inconsistent team results. Entering 2017 with over 160 career goals, Sinclair added multiple tallies in friendlies and tournaments, including goals in the 2018 Women's Championship where secured silver but showed vulnerabilities in finishing beyond her contributions. By mid-2019, she had reached 181 goals, positioning her just three shy of the mark amid a national team roster blending veterans and emerging talent that struggled with cohesion. At the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in , advanced from Group E with a second-place finish, highlighted by Sinclair's equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw against the on June 20, earning her honors. However, the team managed only three goals total in the group stage—two from Sinclair and one from —exposing depth limitations and defensive frailties, as critiques noted over-reliance on aging stars like Sinclair without sufficient midfield creativity or width to break down organized defenses. In the round of 16, fell to 1-1 ( advancing 7-6 on penalties) after extra time, with no goals from Sinclair in that match, underscoring broader program challenges in converting chances and sustaining pressure against top European sides. Post-World Cup, Sinclair's scoring surge continued in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying. On January 29, 2020, she broke Wambach's record by netting her 184th and 185th international goals—both in the first half against St. Kitts and Nevis in the 2020 Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship semifinal, securing a 8-0 victory and 's Olympic berth. This milestone, achieved in her 287th cap as captain, highlighted her enduring finishing prowess amid team tensions with Soccer over pay equity and resources, though her individual output remained decoupled from collective inconsistencies. The then suspended international play, delaying further opportunities but cementing Sinclair's record as a testament to personal resilience against national setbacks.

Tokyo Gold and Final Campaigns (2021–2023)

In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Christine Sinclair captained Canada to their first gold medal in women's soccer. At 38 years old, she scored Canada's goal in the group stage opener against host nation Japan on July 21, 2021, converting a rebound in the sixth minute to secure a 1–1 draw in her 300th international appearance. Canada finished atop their group with two draws and a win, then advanced by defeating Brazil 4–3 on penalties in the quarterfinals following a 0–0 draw. In the semifinals, Canada upset the defending champions United States 1–0 on August 2, 2021, with Jessie Fleming's penalty in extra time. Sinclair started all matches, providing leadership amid a tournament where she netted just one goal overall. The final on August 6, 2021, saw triumph over 3–2 in a after a 1–1 draw, with converting the decisive kick. This victory marked 's first Olympic gold in the sport and elevated Sinclair's Olympic tally to 12 goals across four Games, tying her for third all-time among women. Her veteran presence contributed to a defensive that conceded only two goals in six matches, underscoring the team's tactical discipline under coach . Sinclair entered the , her sixth appearance, as Canada's all-time leading scorer but enduring a challenging group stage exit. In the opener against on July 20, 2023, her penalty was saved, resulting in a 0–0 draw. Canada followed with another 0–0 stalemate versus on July 26, 2023, before a 4–0 defeat to on July 31, 2023, sealed their elimination without advancing. Sinclair started the final group match but did not score in the , as Canada managed just one goal overall in the competition. Following the , Sinclair announced her retirement from international soccer on October 20, 2023, ending a 23-year tenure that began with her debut in 2000. She concluded with 331 caps and a world-record 190 international goals, emphasizing her role in elevating Canadian women's soccer through sustained excellence and major achievements. Her final international matches included friendlies later in 2023, capping a career defined by resilience amid program disputes and competitive highs.

Playing Style and Attributes

Technical Proficiencies

Sinclair's finishing ability stood out as one of her defining technical strengths, culminating in a world-record 190 international goals across 331 appearances for , often from poacher-like positioning inside the that capitalized on service from teammates. Her repertoire included clinical strikes with both feet, powerful headers, and controlled volleys, particularly off set pieces, enabling her to convert chances with high efficiency regardless of angle or pressure. This precision was evident in her professional leagues, where she scored 92 goals in 255 matches excluding internationals, maintaining a striker's output amid varying . Complementing her goal-scoring, Sinclair possessed refined ball control and first touch, allowing her to receive passes in congested areas and either hold up play or distribute effectively, as reflected in her 36 professional assists across the NWSL and WPS. In the NWSL specifically, her 18 assists in 200 appearances for highlighted this skill, often involving quick turns and layoffs under defensive marking. Her positional versatility further enhanced these proficiencies, evolving from wider forward roles early in her career to a central striker focus later on, adapting to exploit gaps against compact defenses.

Physical and Mental Characteristics

Christine Sinclair possessed an athletic physique well-suited to the demands of soccer, standing at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds (68 kg) during her career. Her build emphasized endurance over explosive speed, enabling sustained performance across two decades. Sinclair exemplified durability by competing at an elite level until age 40, accumulating 331 international appearances from 2000 to 2023 despite managing injuries such as chronic that emerged around 2016. This longevity reflected meticulous body maintenance and a high work rate, as evidenced by her 14,426 minutes played in the NWSL alone, third-highest in league goals with 62. Mentally, Sinclair demonstrated exceptional resilience, captaining through repeated tournament heartbreaks, including six World Cups without a win, while delivering clutch goals in Olympic successes. Her scoring record of 190 goals in 331 internationals equated to a goal involvement in roughly 57% of matches, highlighting consistency under pressure and that inspired teammates even in defeats. Sinclair's emphasized perseverance, as she maintained focus amid physical decline, adapting to reduced pace in her later years by relying on positioning and anticipation rather than sprinting. Critics noted occasional lapses in acceleration against younger defenders, yet her overall tenacity compensated, allowing contributions into her 40s.

Tactical Role and Adaptations

Throughout her international career, Christine Sinclair primarily operated as a central striker, leveraging her positioning and finishing to exploit spaces in the . In her early years, this role emphasized opportunities and direct goal threats, aligning with Canada's counter-attacking style under coaches like Even Pellerud. As the team matured and adopted more possession-oriented tactics, particularly from 2013 onward under and later , Sinclair adapted by dropping deeper into midfield to facilitate build-up play, effectively linking defense to attack and creating overloads. This evolution allowed her to orchestrate attacks, drawing defenders out of position and enabling runs from teammates like or Janine Beckie, as seen in Canada's 2021 Tokyo Olympics campaign where her deeper positioning contributed to the gold medal win through improved team cohesion. Sinclair's adaptations included heightened pressing intensity to regain possession high up the pitch, a tactical shift evident in Olympic tournaments where disrupted opponents' rhythm—such as in the 2016 Rio match—and specialization in set-piece delivery, where her precise crosses and headers balanced individual scoring with collective needs. Her record 55 assists for reflect this playmaking emphasis, with increased creative contributions post-2013 correlating to the team's transition from underdogs to contenders.

Controversies and Criticisms

Conflicts with Canada Soccer Federation

In February 2023, the players of the Canadian women's national soccer team, including captain Christine Sinclair, initiated a strike against Canada Soccer to protest budget cuts to the women's program and unresolved pay equity issues. Sinclair publicly disclosed the action on February 11, stating that the federation had reduced the women's budget by about 20% for the year despite the program's Olympic achievements, while the men's team faced no such cuts. The dispute centered on historical funding disparities, with the women's team receiving less investment—estimated at roughly half the men's program's annual allocation in prior years—despite generating superior results, including a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The strike, which Sinclair described as a unified player decision after failed negotiations, led to the boycott of training camps and two scheduled friendlies in the SheBelieves Cup against the United States on February 18 and Brazil on February 21. Canada Soccer responded by fielding a largely inexperienced squad without the senior players, resulting in 1-0 losses and diplomatic tensions with opponents who criticized the uncompetitive matches. Players incurred direct financial losses from foregone match fees and appearance money, estimated in the tens of thousands per individual, while the team missed critical preparation time ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Sinclair emphasized the action's necessity to address federation mismanagement, including opaque finances and a failure to allocate revenues equitably despite the women's program's higher win rate and medal haul compared to the men's. An interim funding agreement was reached on March 2, 2023, covering 2022 compensation with retroactive payments totaling approximately $1.7 million and a commitment to equal per-match pay (around $4,000 CAD) and program investments for both national teams moving forward. Sinclair, alongside teammates , , and Quinn, testified before a House of Commons committee on March 9, voicing distrust in Soccer's leadership for undervaluing the women's contributions and mishandling negotiations, including incidents of perceived disrespect from former president . The federation acknowledged the cuts as erroneous but attributed broader financial strains to overspending on both programs and unfavorable commercial deals, such as a rights agreement yielding only $4 million annually. Subsequent collective bargaining agreement talks culminated in a framework announced in September 2023, establishing equal (85% of net revenues split evenly between men's and women's teams) and performance-based incentives, though players continued to critique the federation's structural inequities and delayed . This resolution addressed immediate disparities but highlighted ongoing tensions over accountability, with the women's team securing parity in a context where their historical underfunding—despite three Olympic medals versus the men's zero—underscored causal failures in rather than revenue gaps alone.

Public Statements and Media Incidents

In the aftermath of Canada's 4-3 extra-time loss to the United States in the women's Olympic soccer semifinal on August 6, 2012, Sinclair confronted referee Christiana Pedersen in a public area outside the locker rooms, reportedly telling her, "You should be ashamed of yourself" for perceived biased officiating that included a controversial call on goalkeeper Erin McLeod for time-wasting, leading to a penalty kick. FIFA's disciplinary committee ruled this constituted unsporting conduct toward match officials, resulting in a four-match international suspension and a fine of 3,000 Swiss francs (approximately $3,500 USD at the time), plus an additional 500 Swiss francs processing fee paid by the Canadian Soccer Association. Sinclair voiced no remorse for her actions or subsequent media remarks, such as stating, "The ref decided the result before it started," emphasizing the impact of poor refereeing on a high-stakes match despite her own hat-trick performance. Sinclair's post-match critiques often reflected a candid of performances, prioritizing over diplomacy. Following Canada's quarterfinal exit at the —its worst tournament showing to date, with no group-stage wins and last-place group finish—she highlighted individual and collective lapses amid physical setbacks like her broken nose sustained in the opener against , underscoring the need for resilience without excusing subpar execution. Her assessments extended to structural realities, as in a 2022 interview where she described the absence of a domestic professional league for Canadian women's soccer as "quite frankly, embarrassing," arguing it hampers talent depth and long-term competitiveness compared to nations with robust infrastructure investments. These instances exemplify Sinclair's pattern of unvarnished commentary, which drew media attention for challenging narratives of unqualified and instead spotlighting causal factors like officiating errors or developmental gaps, even at personal cost. While some viewed her directness as confrontational, it aligned with her reputation for realism, avoiding platitudes in favor of evidence-based critiques derived from on-field experience.

Broader Program Issues and Reflections

The Canadian women's national soccer program has achieved consistent finishes at the Olympics— medals in 2012 and 2016, followed by gold in 2021—yet has struggled at the , with its best result being fourth place in 2003 and subsequent early exits, including last place in their 2011 group and failure to advance from the group stage in 2023. This pattern reflects deeper structural challenges within Canada Soccer, including financial constraints that have disproportionately affected World Cup preparations compared to Olympic cycles, where additional support from the Canadian Olympic enables more focused quadrennial builds. Disputes over funding, such as the 2023 player strike that disrupted pre-World Cup training camps, underscore how resource limitations exacerbate team inconsistencies and limit offensive depth beyond reliance on veteran contributors. Sinclair has critiqued these program shortcomings, emphasizing the need for systemic improvements to sustain excellence across competitions rather than sporadic peaks tied to Olympic-specific investments. In reflections on , she acknowledged historical over-dependence on her goal-scoring amid broader offensive limitations that contributed to underperformance. Following her 2023 retirement, Sinclair addressed the 2024 Paris Olympics drone spying scandal, denying any exposure to such footage during her 23-year tenure: "We were never shown drone footage" in team or individual meetings. She described the incident as "unfortunate" and "sad," lamenting that players endured "condemnable actions by some of their staff" over which they had no control, actions that tarnished the legacy of a program she co-built through three Olympic medals. This episode highlighted ongoing ethical and operational lapses, prompting Sinclair to underscore the importance of to preserve hard-earned credibility amid funding and performance inequities.

Legacy and Impact

Statistical Records and Honors

Sinclair concluded her international career with a record 190 goals in 331 matches for , surpassing all male and female players in history for most international goals scored. This tally includes 10 goals across five Women's World Cups and 12 at the Olympics, underscoring her scoring dominance over 23 years. She also led to the Women's Championship title, contributing key goals in the tournament. At the Olympics, Sinclair appeared in a record six editions from Sydney 2000 to 2020, the most by any female footballer. Canada secured gold in under her captaincy, plus bronze medals in 2012 and Rio 2016, where she scored the decisive goal in the latter final. With the in the NWSL, Sinclair captured three league championships in 2013, 2017, and 2022, along with two NWSL Shields in 2016 and 2021, and the 2021 . In October 2025, she became the first player inducted into the Thorns Hall of Fame, with her number 12 jersey retired in a ceremony at . Individually, Sinclair earned the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award a record 14 times, was named to the Women's Team of the Decade for 2011–2020, and received the Best Special Award in 2022 for her goal-scoring milestone. She was shortlisted for the inaugural women's in 2018 and again in 2021, and appointed to the in 2022 for her contributions to sport.

Influence on Women's Soccer

Christine Sinclair emerged as the preeminent figure in Canadian women's soccer, driving substantial growth in the sport's domestic popularity through her leadership and scoring prowess. The 2012 London Olympics bronze medal achievement, highlighted by her six goals including a against , generated unprecedented national engagement, with over 10.7 million viewers tuning into the bronze medal match coverage, far exceeding typical domestic soccer audiences. This momentum translated into elevated match attendance, exemplified by 28,255 spectators at a 2014 international friendly in —the second-largest crowd for a women's soccer match in Canadian history at the time—demonstrating a causal link between her Olympic visibility and sustained fan interest. Her influence extended to youth development, as successive Olympic bronzes in 2012 and 2016 correlated with broader surges in soccer participation rates across , where the sport overtook ice hockey as the most registered youth activity. Sinclair's status as the national team's and all-time leading scorer inspired increased registrations, with her on-field successes providing empirical motivation for young athletes to pursue the game professionally. This foundational popularity supported the emergence of domestic infrastructure, including pathways toward professional leagues, by normalizing women's soccer as a viable career pursuit. Internationally, Sinclair exemplified a striker archetype defined by tactical efficiency, opportunistic positioning, and relentless goal-scoring rather than flamboyant or media-favored , influencing global perceptions of forward roles in women's soccer. With 190 international goals—more than any player in history—her career emphasized causal in high-stakes tournaments, serving as a benchmark for results-driven forwards who prioritize collective outcomes over stylistic hype. This approach resonated beyond , positioning her as a for emerging strikers valuing substance in performance metrics.

Critiques of Career and Program Shortcomings

Despite holding the all-time international goal-scoring record, Sinclair's never secured a medal, with the team's deepest run being the quarterfinals in 2015, followed by round-of-16 exits in 2011 and 2019, and a group-stage elimination in 2023. This shortfall has been attributed to the program's over-reliance on Sinclair for offense, as evidenced by analyses noting the team's difficulty generating goals independently of her contributions, particularly as she aged and opponents keyed defenses on her. Critics argue this dependency exposed a lack of attacking depth and tactical flexibility, hindering progression in high-stakes tournaments where broader squad contributions proved decisive for medal contenders. On the club level, Sinclair's achievements were concentrated in unstable early leagues and her longest stint with the , where she contributed to the 2013 NWSL Championship but experienced limited team silverware elsewhere amid league collapses, such as the folding after 2011. Injuries further curtailed her peaks, including a 2008 left leg fracture from a collision that sidelined her for significant portions of the season and recurring issues like calf strains that forced limited participation in key matches. These setbacks, combined with the opportunity costs of prioritizing international duties, arguably prevented sustained dominance across multiple franchises beyond Portland. Canada's women's program faced systemic funding disparities compared to the men's, with 2022 allocations showing $11.03 million for men's teams versus $5.09 million for women's, exacerbating resource gaps in training, travel, and development. Sinclair publicly criticized the federation's resistance to equitable reforms during the 2023 parliamentary hearings and amid the team's strike over budget cuts and pay inequities, describing treatment as "deeply disrespected" and marked by "secrecy." This friction highlighted opportunity costs, as underinvestment delayed infrastructure improvements and talent pipelines that might have mitigated over-dependence on veterans like Sinclair and elevated competitiveness.

Post-Retirement Activities

Professional Recognitions

On October 4, 2025, the Portland Thorns inducted Christine Sinclair as the inaugural member of the Thorns Hall of Fame and retired her number 12 jersey in a pre-match ceremony at , marking the first such retirement in club history. The event drew 21,104 attendees and celebrated her contributions, including three NWSL championships during her tenure from 2013 to 2024. In 2025, Sinclair was selected for induction into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025, announced on April 30, alongside Lars Hirschfeld, , and Michelle Pye. She was also named to the Canada Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025, announced June 3, recognizing her among five athletes including Erik Guay and Kevin Martin, with the induction ceremony scheduled for October 29. These honors affirm her status as a pivotal figure in Canadian soccer post-retirement. Sinclair delivered the 2025 Distinguished Knight Lecture at the on March 11, sharing insights from her career in a public address hosted by the Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visitors Program. This speaking engagement highlights her ongoing influence in educational and inspirational roles beyond active play.

Philanthropic Efforts

Following her retirement from professional soccer in late 2023, Christine Sinclair established the Christine Sinclair Foundation in December 2023 to inspire and empower young girls in the sport, with a particular emphasis on providing opportunities for underdogs and addressing access disparities between urban and rural areas in . The foundation's initiatives prioritize affordable programming, safe training environments, and mentorship from to foster skill development and confidence among participants facing barriers such as geographic isolation or financial constraints. The foundation's flagship program, the Sinclair Soccer Summit, launched its inaugural event on December 7, 2024, in , , gathering 40 girls aged 11 to 14 from across the province for a day of training, mentorship sessions with professional coaches, and discussions on goal-setting. This event marked an initial measurable expansion, with participants selected to represent diverse backgrounds, including those from rural communities, to counteract uneven resource distribution in Canadian girls' soccer development. Early outcomes included direct skill-building sessions and networking, supported by partnerships that provided equipment and facility access, contributing to sustained participant engagement as evidenced by plans for replication. Building on this, the foundation announced a second Soccer Summit for 2025 and an expansion to in 2026, aiming to scale participation and replicate the model's focus on inclusive training to bridge regional gaps. Complementary efforts include the Girls with Goals scholarship program, launched in with Vancouver Foundation in November 2024, which funds training and equipment for underserved female soccer players. Initial fundraising exceeded $250,000 through corporate sponsors like CIBC, enabling these targeted interventions without reliance on broad government subsidies. Sinclair has also supported non-soccer causes, serving as a spokeswoman for A&W Canada's annual Burgers to Beat MS campaign, which raises funds for multiple sclerosis research and treatment.

Advocacy and Future Orientations

Following the drone spying incident involving Canada Soccer staff at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Sinclair called for accountability directed at the federation rather than the players, arguing that medal or point deductions unfairly punish athletes uninvolved in the misconduct. She proposed financial penalties on Canada Soccer as an appropriate measure, while noting the scandal's emergence post-dated her international retirement and that players under her 23-year tenure were never shown or briefed on such footage. Sinclair described the episode as "sad" for the affected players, highlighting a need for organizational reforms to restore trust and prevent recurrence. In 2024 interviews ahead of her club retirement, Sinclair outlined a vision for Canadian women's soccer centered on robust youth investments and professional infrastructure to sustain competitiveness, warning that inadequate support risks Canada being eclipsed by nations prioritizing national team and developmental funding. She advocated expanding domestic pro pathways through the Northern Super League (NSL), of which she became co-owner of Rise FC, to foster merit-driven talent pipelines independent of over-reliance on international success or external leagues. By April 2025, with the NSL's launch, Sinclair emphasized its role in creating "bigger and brighter" opportunities via competitive environments that reward performance and preparation, rather than excusing gaps with structural rationales. Her forward-looking push prioritizes next-generation coaching and facilities to build self-sustaining programs, drawing from Canada's historical achievements while critiquing stagnant federation priorities that hinder long-term growth. This approach aligns with her repeated stress on and results-oriented development in post-retirement commentary.

Personal Life

Relationships and Privacy

Christine Sinclair has consistently maintained a low public profile regarding her personal relationships, rarely discussing romantic partnerships or in interviews or public appearances. Reliable biographical accounts indicate no confirmed long-term partners or , with sources describing her as single and focused on professional and familial priorities rather than public romantic narratives. Sinclair has expressed a deliberate preference for in her Playing the Long Game, emphasizing separation between her athletic career and private life to avoid scrutiny. She has no children, a choice aligned with her emphasis on soccer commitments spanning over two decades, during which family-building was deprioritized in favor of training, competitions, and team obligations. While Sinclair advocates for gender equity in sports and has supported inclusive environments—evident in her on Canada's national team, which includes openly LGBTQ+ athletes—her own remains undisclosed, with online speculations (e.g., on forums like ) unsubstantiated by primary statements from Sinclair herself. This reticence reflects a broader pattern of shielding intimate details from media, allowing her public identity to center on achievements rather than personal disclosures.

Non-Soccer Interests and Lifestyle

Sinclair maintains an interest in , which she has described as a favored recreational activity outside of soccer. This pursuit gained renewed emphasis during periods of reduced soccer activity, such as the NWSL season suspension, when she rediscovered the sport amid . Born and raised in , —part of the metropolitan area—Sinclair retains strong local community connections, including the naming of the Christine Sinclair in Burnaby on June 12, 2023, her 40th birthday, which provides fitness facilities, gyms, and recreational programs to residents. Following her full retirement from professional soccer in November 2024 after 25 years, Sinclair has prioritized a balanced , allowing for personal recovery from the cumulative physical demands of her career, which involved over 700 competitive appearances and multiple injury-related surgeries. She has no reported major business ventures beyond her philanthropic foundation focused on youth soccer access.

Career Statistics

International Breakdown

Christine Sinclair amassed 190 goals and 54 assists in 331 appearances for the women's national team, spanning from her debut on March 12, 2000, to her retirement match on December 5, 2023, yielding a scoring efficiency of roughly 0.57 goals per match. Her contributions were distributed across various competitions, with a notable concentration in qualifying and regional tournaments where frequently faced lower-ranked opponents. In Olympic tournaments, Sinclair scored 12 goals over four editions (2008 , 2012 , 2016 Rio de Janeiro, and 2020 ), including a tournament-high six goals at 2012 during Canada's bronze-medal campaign. At the FIFA Women's World Cup, she registered 10 goals across six participations (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023), with standout performances such as her free-kick strike against in 2011. Qualifying matches proved particularly fruitful, as evidenced by her 46 goals in competitions, which encompass Olympic qualifiers and regional championships against teams like and . Sinclair's output against key rivals was substantial; by May 2019, she had tallied at least 16 goals versus , with additional strikes in subsequent encounters, such as during the 2020 Olympic qualifying where she broke the all-time international scoring record.
CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsNotes
Olympics~2012N/AIncludes 6 at ; gold in 2020 , bronzes in /
~3010N/AScored in all six editions; no medals
Events/QualifiersN/A46N/ADominant vs. regional foes like (≥16 goals by 2019)
The balance of her goals—beyond major tournaments—largely derived from friendlies and qualifiers, underscoring efficiency in high-volume play against varied opposition levels.

Club Totals and Highlights

Christine Sinclair's club career spanned multiple leagues, including the USL W-League, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where she amassed over 225 goals across approximately 464 appearances. Her scoring efficiency varied by league, with a career average exceeding 0.48 goals per match, higher in developmental leagues like the W-League compared to the more competitive and stable NWSL environment.
Club/LeagueAppearancesGoals
Vancouver Whitecaps (USL W-League, 2000–2008)167120
(WPS, 2009–2010)4016
(WPS, 2011)~2010
(NWSL, 2013–2024)23779 (all competitions)
Sinclair's club highlights include leading the Vancouver Whitecaps to a W-League championship in 2006 with 10 goals in 21 games. In WPS, she contributed two goals to FC Pride's 2010 championship win and scored the game-winner in the 2011 WPS final for , earning MVP honors. With Portland Thorns, she debuted in 2013 by scoring key goals en route to the and inaugural championship, tallying 10 regular-season goals that year. In 2017, Sinclair set the NWSL playoff goals record with four strikes, including two in the final, securing the Thorns' second title; she held the franchise record for regular-season goals (64) and all-competition goals (79). Her 2020 Fall Series performance featured six goals, leading the team amid the shortened season. These peaks underscored her clutch scoring in playoffs and unstable leagues like WPS, contrasting with consistent output in NWSL's professional structure.

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  123. https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadaSoccer/comments/1ecu3vr/sinclair_response_to_drone_scandal/
  124. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/christine-sinclair-retires-future-plans-next-generation-canada
  125. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/northern-super-league-inaugural-season-christine-sinclair-1.7511575
  126. https://www.thescore.com/mls/news/3223133
  127. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtahUQV6K0s
  128. https://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/christine-sinclair
  129. https://dklassgh.net/2023/12/06/christine-sinclairs-personal-life-siblings-parents-husband-boyfriend-kids-other-family-and-dating-history/
  130. https://thebcreview.ca/2024/02/13/2072-green-sinclair-brunt/
  131. https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/inside-the-mystery-of-christine-sinclair-how-a-canadian-legend-hid-in-plain-sight-throughout/article_c9a3e6e7-cea4-55cf-85dd-2adb1880227a.html
  132. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-christine-sinclair-cemented-her-legend-on-the-pitch-her-fight-for/
  133. https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2020/05/portland-thorns-forward-christine-sinclair-trying-to-go-with-the-flow-amid-suspended-nwsl-season.html
  134. https://www.burnaby.ca/recreation-and-arts/recreation-facilities/christine-sinclair-community-centre
  135. https://www.concacaf.com/en/concacafw/news/canada-legend-christine-sinclair-brings-end-to-decorated-national-team-career/
  136. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPFER762Dj8
  137. https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/canadian-captain-christine-sinclair-scores-career-goal-no-181/
  138. https://www.thorns.com/news/portland-thorns-fc-legend-christine-sicnlair-announces-retirement
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