Canadian legend Christine Sinclair announces retirement from professional soccer

Canada's national women's soccer team captain Christine Sinclair in Vancouver on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press)

Canadian legend Christine Sinclair announced Friday that she will retire from playing professional soccer at the end of the season.

The 41-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., said in a post on Instagram that she will finish out the National Women's Soccer League campaign with the Portland Thorns, who are scheduled to finish out the regular season on Nov. 1.

"Portland, thank you will never be enough," Sinclair posted with a photo of her huddling with her teammates on the pitch. "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."

Sinclair retired from the women's national team last year after the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. She helped Canada win gold at the Tokyo Olympics and bronze at both the 2016 Games in Rio and the 2012 Games in London.

She finished her international career as the world's top goal scorer with 190 goals.

She is also among just five players to appear in six Women’s World Cups, and one of just three players to score in five. But a World Cup trophy eluded her.

“Christine, your achievements both on and off the field have set a new standard in Canadian sport," Canada Soccer said in a statement. "You’ve paved the way for future generations, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to shape the future of soccer in Canada and around the world.

"Thank you for the unforgettable moments, for lifting Canadian soccer to new heights, and for your unwavering commitment to the game."

Sinclair has played for Portland since the NWSL launched in 2013, and over 11 seasons has scored a team-high 64 goals.

She helped the Thorns win the inaugural NWSL championship, before adding additional titles in 2017 and 2022. She scored Portland’s first-ever goal in a match against FC Kansas City on April 13, 2013.

"Thorns FC is proud to honour the monumental career of our very own Christine Sinclair," the Thorns said in a release.

"As No. 12 hangs up the boots, we thank her for her long-term commitment to our club and consider ourselves lucky to be able to witness the greatness and progress she created for soccer on a global landscape."

Vancouver Rise FC of the newly formed Northern Super League has teased that Sinclair may take on a role with the club, posting a photo of her with the caption "Something BIG coming soon."

"I still have the passion as that young four-year-old growing up in Burnaby, B.C., but as I 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 wrote.

The Portland Thorns are scheduled to play the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite team in a CONCACAF W Champions Cup match at B.C. Place in Vancouver on Oct. 15.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.