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Christine Sinclair

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Christine Margaret Sinclair is a former professional soccer player from Canada. She is recognized as one of the greatest athletes in the history of the sport. Sinclair holds the official record for the most international goals scored by any player, male or female. She scored 190 goals for the Canadian national team. She also earned 331 international caps, which are appearances for a national team. Her career spanned over 20 seasons with the senior national team.

Christine Sinclair 2013-05-04 Spirit - Thorns-2
Christine Sinclair 2013-05-04 Spirit - Thorns-2

Sinclair's journey began in Burnaby, British Columbia. She was born on June 12, 1983. She started playing soccer at age four on an under-7 team. Soccer was a family passion for her. Her father, Bill Sinclair, was an amateur soccer champion. Her uncles, Brian and Bruce Gant, also played at professional levels. Before focusing on soccer, she played basketball and baseball. In her youth baseball league, she was a second baseman. She chose the number 12 to honor Roberto Alomar, a Hall of Fame player. By age 11, she was already an all-star for British Columbia.

Her collegiate career at the University of Portland was highly decorated. In 2001, she led all first-year students in total scoring. During her second season in 2002, she led Division I with 26 goals. She scored a golden goal to win the national championship against Santa Clara. A golden goal is a sudden-death goal that ends a match immediately. Sinclair finished her college career with 110 goals in 94 games. This total is the second-highest in NCAA history. She also earned the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, an award for the top college player. She graduated with a 3.75 grade point average in life sciences.

Sinclair achieved great success in professional club leagues. She won the WPS Championship in 2010 with FC Gold Pride.

FC Gold Pride pose with 2010 WPS Championship Trophy 6
FC Gold Pride pose with 2010 WPS Championship Trophy 6

In 2011, she won another championship with the Western New York Flash. She was named the Most Valuable Player of that final. Sinclair then joined the Portland Thorns FC for the inaugural NWSL season in 2013. She served as team captain and won three NWSL championships. These titles came in 2013, 2017, and 2022. In her final NWSL regular season match, she scored her 66th goal. This set a club record for the Portland Thorns. She retired from club soccer at the end of the 2024 season.

On the international stage, Sinclair led Canada through many historic moments. She participated in six FIFA Women's World Cups between 2003 and 2023. She is one of only three players to score in five different World Cup editions. This group includes players Marta and Cristiano Ronaldo. Sinclair also competed in four Olympic football tournaments. She led Canada to a gold medal in 2020. She also earned two Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and 2016. Her leadership as captain helped define an era for Canadian soccer.

Her many achievements resulted in numerous prestigious honors. In 2012, she won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year. She was the first soccer player to receive this honor. She also won the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award twice, in 2012 and 2020. In 2013, she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2017, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2022, FIFA gave her the Best FIFA Special Award for her goal-scoring record. In 2025, she was inducted into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame. The committee even waived the usual five-year waiting period for her induction.

Sinclair's impact extends to the culture of the sport itself. She was shortlisted for FIFA Women's World Player of the Year seven times. Her teammate Megan Rapinoe once called her the best player to never win that specific award. In Portland, her legacy is permanent. She was the first person inducted into the Portland Thorns Hall of Fame. The club retired her number 12 jersey to honor her contributions. Her career shows how dedication can lead to global leadership in athletics.

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