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Christine Margaret Sinclair is a Canadian former professional soccer player. An Olympic gold medallist, two-time Olympic bronze medallist, CONCACAF champion, and 14-time winner of the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award, Sinclair is the world's all-time leader for international goals scored by men or women, with 190 goals, and is one of the most-capped international soccer players with 331 appe…
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sports · Canadian soccer player (born 1983) · association football player · also Christine Sinclair, Christine Margaret Sinclair, Sinclair
Born 12 June 1983 · Q262802
138 published statements · 0 followers
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“How does someone reach that? Just kept ticking away and I”
“s most prolific goal scorer.”
“some people interpreted me handing Jessie the ball as a passing of the torch. Sometimes people read too much into things.”
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“the remarkable Sinclair is in the twilight of her career. Some time sooner than later, she will walk away for good. Monday proved how difficult that will be.”
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“was sweet revenge, absolutely perfect.”
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Columbia Missourian: Sinclair wins gold, Morales falls short at U20 World Wrestling Championship
USA Wrestling: Seidel, Sinclair capture men’s freestyle gold at U20 World Championships
TV News Check: Sinclair’s AMP Sports Adds Tennessee-Focused Podcast Hosted by Phillip Fulmer
Newsbug.info: Mizzou's Sinclair wrestling for gold at U20 Wrestling World Championships
Fullerton Observer: Dinosaurs on a Temporary Vacation: Sinclair Gas Station’s New Attraction Under Construction
Public attention spiked: 6,239 Wikipedia readers in one day, 18.8× the usual 332, with 1 article edits. Editors noted: I removed some overly complimentary language, but left some others because they seemed relevant to the athlete's style of play
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Sinclair was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest grade in the Order
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Public attention spiked: 4,527 Wikipedia readers in one day, 13.7× the usual 332, with 2 article edits.
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Public attention spiked: 10,717 Wikipedia readers in one day, 32.3× the usual 332, with 1 article edits. Editors noted: Olympic debut, CONCACAF gold, and World Cup nadir (2008–2011)
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Public attention spiked: 6,670 Wikipedia readers in one day, 20.1× the usual 332, with 1 article edits. Editors noted: According to the source given, she is the top international scorer in reality, not just officially.
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Sinclair's 331 international caps was the second-most of all time, behind only American Kristine Lilly
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Became the first person to receive this honour, and the Thorns retired her number 12 jersey from play
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It was announced that Sinclair would be the first player to be inducted into the Portland Thorns Hall of Fame
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Won award: Canada Soccer Hall of Fame (2025).
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Won award: BC Sports Hall of Fame (2025).
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Won: Order of Sport with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2025).
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With Matheson taking the lead in organizing it
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The first individual to have the five-year waiting period after retirement waived by the Canada Soccer Heritage and Hall of Fame Committee
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A 2–1 loss against Gotham FC in the NWSL playoffs, a game which broke the club's attendance record with 15,540 attending the match at Red Bull Arena
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It was announced that Sinclair would join the ownership group for Vancouver Rise FC of the Northern Super League
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Sinclair announced her retirement from club soccer at the end of the 2024 NWSL season
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In December 2023, one day after her final international game for Canada, Sinclair launched the Christine Sinclair Foundation, which held its inaugural summit in December 2024 at the National Soccer Development Centre in Vancouver.
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The opening goal of a 6–0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship
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Won the American NWSL Championship with Portland Thorns (2022).
Won: NWSL Championship with Portland Thorns FC (2022).
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Won award: Canada Soccer President's Award (2022).
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Her mother's death in February 2022 prompted Sinclair to write Playing the Long Game: A Memoir, her first extensive account of her life and career.
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Sinclair captained the team to a second-place finish in the regular season and a third championship title as the Thorns beat the Kansas City Current 2–0
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Sinclair played her 300th match for Canada, in which she scored a goal in a 1–1 draw against hosts Japan in the team's opening match of the Olympic women's tournament in Tokyo
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Won the American NWSL Challenge Cup with Portland Thorns (2021).
Won: NWSL Shield with Portland Thorns FC (2021).
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Won award: The Best FIFA Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement (2021).
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Won: Summer Olympics with Canada (2021).
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Won: NWSL Challenge Cup with Portland Thorns FC (2021).
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Won: International Champions Cup with Portland Thorns FC (2021).
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In June 2021, her home city of Burnaby announced that they would be renaming the Fortius Sport and Health Facilities in her honour, the Facilities becoming the Christine Sinclair Community Centre.
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Won award: IFFHS CONCACAF Women's Team of the Decade (2020).
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Won: NWSL Community Shield with Portland Thorns FC (2020).
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Won award: Bobbie Rosenfeld Award (2020).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Decade (2019).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2018).
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Won award: Algarve Cup Top Scorer (2018).
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Won award: NWSL Second XI (2018).
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Won award: Thorns Supporters Player of the Year (2018).
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Was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, the second-highest award a civilian can receive, with investiture of the award on January 24, 2018
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Won the American NWSL Championship with Portland Thorns (2017).
Won: NWSL Championship with Portland Thorns FC (2017).
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Won the Algarve Cup with Canada Women (2016).
Won: NWSL Shield with Portland Thorns FC (2016).
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Won: Algarve Cup with Canada (2016).
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Won award: FIFA World Player of the Year (2016).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2016).
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Won: Four Nations Tournament with Canada (2015).
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Sinclair, along with teammate Kadeisha Buchanan, was featured on a Canadian postage stamp commemorating the 2015 Women's World Cup hosted by Canada
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2014).
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Scoring her 147th international goal in a 2–0 win over Scotland at the 2013 Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo
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Won the American NWSL Championship with Portland Thorns (2013).
Won National Women's Soccer League Player of the Month (2013).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2013).
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Won: NWSL Championship with Portland Thorns FC (2013).
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Won award: NWSL Second XI (2013).
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Awarded Canada's Walk of Fame (2013).
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It was announced that Sinclair would play for the Portland Thorns FC for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League via the NWSL Player Allocation
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Played for Portland Thorns FC (2013–2024) — 218 appearances, 75 goals.
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Among other honours received in her career, Sinclair was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2013.
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Won award: Lou Marsh Award (2012).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2012).
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Won award: Bobbie Rosenfeld Award (2012).
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Won award: Summer Olympic Golden Boot (2012).
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Won award: FIFA World Player of the Year (2012).
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The first soccer player so honoured, and was a two-time recipient of the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada's female athlete of the year (2012, 2020)
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Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020), captaining the national team to third-place finishes in 2012 and 2016 and first place in 2020
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Sinclair was named MVP of the 2011 WPS Championship Final after the Flash won the championship in Rochester, New York
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Won: WPS Championship with Western New York Flash (2011).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2011).
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Won: Pan American Games with Canada (2011).
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Won award: WPS Best XI (2011).
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Won award: WPS Championship Final MVP (2011).
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Won: Cyprus Women's Cup with Canada (2011).
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Won award: Pan American Games Golden Boot (2011).
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Won award: IFFHS CONCACAF Women's Team of the Decade (2011).
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Played for Western New York Flash (2011–2012) — 15 appearances, 10 goals.
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And its subsequent bronze medal at the Olympics, there were expectations on the team to perform on home soil
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Joined Western New York Flash in 2011.
Western New York Flash announced that they had agreed to terms with the Canadian striker for the 2011 season
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Due to not meeting the league's financial reserve requirement
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2010).
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Won: Cyprus Women's Cup with Canada (2010).
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Won: WPS Championship with FC Gold Pride (2010).
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Won: CONCACAF Women's Championship with Canada (2010).
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Won award: FIFA World Player of the Year (2010).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Decade (2010).
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Sinclair scored her 100th career goal and broke the Canadian women's national team appearance record of 132 previously set by former teammate Andrea Neil
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Won award: Cyprus Women's Cup Top Scorer (2009).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2009).
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Joined FC Gold Pride in 2009.
Played for FC Gold Pride (2009–2010) — 40 appearances, 16 goals.
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Won: Cyprus Women's Cup with Canada (2008).
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Won award: Cyprus Women's Cup Top Scorer (2008).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2008).
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Won award: FIFA World Player of the Year (2008).
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Won award: FIFA World Player of the Year (2007).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2007).
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Won award: CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup Golden Boot (2006).
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Won award: FIFA World Player of the Year (2006).
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Awarded Honda Sports Award for Soccer (2006).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2006).
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Won: USL W-League with Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2006).
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Played for Vancouver Whitecaps (2006–2008) — 21 appearances, 10 goals.
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Won award: FIFA World Player of the Year (2005).
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Won award: MAC Hermann Trophy (2005).
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Won: NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship with University of Portland Pilots (2005).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2005).
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Studied at University of Portland (2001–2005).
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Won award: MAC Hermann Trophy (2004).
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2004).
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Won award: FIFA World Player of the Year (2002).
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Won: NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship with University of Portland Pilots (2002).
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Won award: FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship Golden Boot (2002).
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Won award: FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship Best XI (2002).
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Won award: FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship Golden Ball (2002).
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Won award: CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup Golden Boot (2002).
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Won award: CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup Best XI (2002).
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Sinclair led Division I in goals with 26
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Played for Portland Pilots women's soccer (2001–2005) — 94 appearances, 110 goals.
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Played for Vancouver Whitecaps (2001–2002) — 10 appearances, 9 goals.
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Played for Canada women's national under-20 soccer team (2001–2002) — 19 appearances, 27 goals.
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Sinclair arrived at the University of Portland where she joined the soccer program
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Won award: Canadian Player of the Year (2000).
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Sinclair helped the Vancouver Angels finish in fourth place in the WPSL, although she missed the first few matches of the season while representing Canada at the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup
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Played for Canada women's national soccer team (2000–2023) — 319 appearances, 190 goals.
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Sinclair began playing soccer at the age of four for an under-7 team
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Born 1983-06-12.
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