Canadian legend Christine Sinclair announced Friday that she will retire from professional soccer after this season.
The 41-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., announced in an Instagram post that she will conclude her National Women’s Soccer League campaign with the Portland Thorns, who are scheduled to conclude the regular season on Nov. 1.
“Thank you, Portland,” Sinclair wrote alongside a photo of himself hugging his teammates on the field. It will never be enough,” he posted. “As I conclude this final ride, I want to say what a privilege it has been to represent this unique, beautiful and passionate city I will always call home.”
Sinclair retired from the women’s national team after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup last year. She helped Canada win gold at the Tokyo Olympics and bronze at Rio 2016 and London 2012.
She finished her international career as the world’s top scorer with 190 goals.
She is also one of only five players to have played in six Women’s World Cups and one of only three players to have scored in five World Cups. But the World Cup trophy eluded her.
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“Christine, your achievements on and off the field have set a new standard for Canadian sport,” Canada Soccer said in a statement. “You 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 and unwavering commitment to the game that took Canadian soccer to new heights.”
Sinclair has played for Portland since the NWSL’s inception in 2013, scoring a team-high 64 goals in 11 seasons.
She helped the Thorns win their first NWSL championship before adding additional titles in 2017 and 2022. She scored her first goal for Portland on April 13, 2013, against FC Kansas City.
“Thorns FC is proud to honor the monumental career of our own Christine Sinclair,” the Thorns said in a press release.
“As No. 12 hangs up her boots, we would like to thank her for her long-standing commitment to our club and feel fortunate to have been able to witness the greatness and progress she has made for football in a global environment.”
Vancouver Rise FC of the newly formed Northern Super League teased that Sinclair might take up a role at the club, posting a photo of her with the caption “Something BIG Coming Soon.”
“I still have the same passion as a little four-year-old growing up in Burnaby, BC. But as I hang up my boots, I am determined to convey that passion in a new way. To continue to grow the game I love while inspiring the next generation,” Sinclair wrote.
The Portland Thorns are scheduled to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite team in a CONCACAF W Champions Cup match at BC Place in Vancouver on October 15.
—Uses files from the Associated Press.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
