Canada and NWSL legend Christine Sinclair announces retirement

Football’s all-time leading international goalscorer has officially announced her retirement this week, putting an end to a career that has spanned nearly two-and-a-half decades.

Sinclair will go down as one of the greatest players of all time, inspiring a generation of young footballers on and off the pitch.  She will wrap up her lucrative career with a staggering 190 goals in 331 international games — nearly 60 more than men’s football scoring leader, Cristiano Ronaldo, and an Olympic gold medal.

On the domestic front, the 41-year-old has amassed 62 NWSL goals prior to the start of the 2024 campaign, the third most in league history, and her 176 appearances ranks seventh all-time.

Sinclair is perhaps best known for her time as a Portland Thorn, where she helped lead the club to three league titles and racked up 79 goals across all competitions.

“As I finish out this last ride, I want to say what a privilege it has been to represent this unique, beautiful, and passionate city that I will always call home,” she said in a social media post.

“I still have the same passion as that young 4-year-old growing up in Burnaby, BC, but as II hang up my playing boots, I vow to channel it in a new way. To continue growing the game I love, while inspiring the next generation.”

Sinclair’s last game for the Thorns will be November 1 against Angel City FC in their season finale at Providence Park, having played her final game for Canada in December 2023.