Christine Sinclair

Christine Sinclair made her senior national team debut at 16 in the 2000 Algarve Cup, scoring three goals. Her collegiate career at the University of Portland (2001-2005) included four-time All-American honors, leading Division I in goals with 26 in 2002. She secured two national collegiate Division I championships (2002, 2005), twice receiving the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top soccer player (2004, 2005). In her senior year, she set an all-time Division I goal-scoring record with 39 goals, also earning the Honda-Broderick Cup.

From 2013 to 2024, Sinclair captained Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL, guiding the team to NWSL Championships in 2013, 2017, and 2022, alongside NWSL Shields (2016, 2021) and the NWSL Challenge Cup (2021). Internationally, she participated in six FIFA Women’s World Cups and four Olympic football tournaments (2003-2023). She captained Canada to Olympic bronze medals (2012, 2016) and an Olympic gold medal in 2020. She served as Canadian flag bearer for the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremonies, and won the CONCACAF Women’s Championship in 2010 and Pan American Games gold in 2011.

In 2020, Sinclair became the world’s all-time leader for international goals with 190, playing her 300th international match in 2021. Her achievements earned her the Lou Marsh Trophy (2012) and the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award twice (2012, 2020). She was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame (2013), appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada (2017), and received The Best FIFA Special Award in 2022 for her goal-scoring record. Sinclair announced her international retirement in December 2023 and club retirement in September 2024.

Her legacy will be cemented with induction into the Portland Thorns Hall of Fame in October 2025, with her number 12 jersey retired, and induction into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame in 2025.