When Christine Sinclair tapped home her second goal in a game against St. Kitts in 2020, she broke a notable record. It was the 185th goal of her international career. This made her the all-time leading goal scorer on the international stage, ahead of stars like Christiano Ronaldo and Abby Wambach.
Fast forward three years, and the Canadian captain had the opportunity to break another record by becoming the first player to score at six World Cups. Unfortunately, the goal never came, and the Canadian team never made it out of the group stages after being beaten by Australia 4-0. If Sinclair retires from international football, as she has indicated, this will be a less-than-stellar end to a long career. But this does not detract from her inspirational achievements and performances.
A record-breaking force in women’s soccer
Christine Sinclair has been a central force in Canadian international soccer for more than 20 years. Over that time, she has played at six World Cups, from the United States in 2003 to Australia/New Zealand in 2023. She has also participated in four Olympics, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, which took place in 2021. She captained the Canadians to bronze medal finishes in 2012 and 2016. The team then placed first in 2021.
Overall, Sinclair has the following achievements to her credit:
- One Olympic gold medal
- Two Olympic bronze medals
- Canada Soccer Player of the Year 14 times
- All-time leading international goal scorer
- More than 300 international caps
- Scored at five separate World Cup tournaments
- Shortlisted for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year seven times
Career spans more than 20 years and has inspired others
Her impressive career started when Sinclair was 16 years old. She played for her country while she was still breaking collegiate records. Over the years since Sinclair has attracted attention from soccer aficionados and fans alike. For female fans especially she has become an inspiration attracting attendances at live games, wagering on her performances at sites listed here, and TV and online viewing.
Sinclair’s talent and skills led to her being named captain in 2006, when the Canadian team competed at the Gold Cup. Becoming captain further increased her popularity. It also became apparent that she was a natural leader as well as a natural and gifted goal scorer. Sinclair was still in her early 20s at this point, but she was already inspiring her team and Canadian soccer fans.
In the later years of her career, Sinclair has continued on her inspirational path. She led the Canadians to their first-ever Olympic gold medal win in Tokyo in 2021. Her influence has not just been about performances on the pitch either. Sinclair has been integral in the conflict with Canada Soccer. She has put her voice, experience, and influence to use to improve the position of women’s soccer in Canada and the conditions within the sport.
If Christine Sinclair does now retire from international soccer, as she has indicated she will, she leaves an impressive legacy behind her. Future generations of female players in Canada and internationally will be influenced by her passion, commitment, and dedication to the sport.
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