Christine Sinclair: World’s top international scorer to retire from Canada duty
Canada captain and the world’s all-time leading international goalscorer Christine Sinclair says she is retiring from the women’s national team.
The 40-year-old, who has scored a record 190 goals for her country in 327 games, will continue playing at club level with Portland Thorns next season.
Sinclair will play in two send-off games for Canada – set to take place in November and December – before retiring.
“You can’t play forever,” she said.
“This seems like a good time to be done.”
Sinclair’s illustrious career has seen her play in six World Cups and win an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games.
In a career spanning 23 years, she has made 327 appearances for Canada – second only to Kristine Lilly of the United States women’s national team with 354 caps.
Sinclair made her debut for Canada – and scored her first international goal – as a 16-year-old at the 2000 Algarve Cup.
She received the Best Fifa Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement in 2021 and is a 14-time Canadian women’s player of the year.
Sinclair has long been a vocal advocate for the women’s game, something she describes as one of her proudest achievements.
Writing an open letter to her 16-year-old self in The Globe and Mail, Sinclair said: “You will stand up to your federation to push forward on a landmark equal pay agreement for the national team.
“You will help announce that a domestic professional women’s football league is coming to Canada. You will inspire generations of young girls to kick a soccer ball for the first time with real dreams of playing professionally.
“And you better believe we will continue to fight for what’s right. For equality for past, present and future generations.”