Christine Sinclair, World's All-Time Highest Goal-Scorer, Announces Retirement from International Soccer

In a heartfelt letter reflecting on her career, Sinclair hinted that she may play one more season for the Portland Thorns

Christine Sinclair is hanging up her cleats — or at least her Canadian ones.

The 40-year-old professional athlete, one of the most renowned soccer players of all time, first teased her retirement from international soccer with a vague Instagram post on Thursday.

Soon after, Canada Soccer officially announced the news on its own social media accounts, dedicating several posts to Sinclair, the highest-scoring player in international soccer.

“Christine Sinclair to leave international football at the end of 2023 🍁,” one post read. “It will mark the end of a remarkable 24-year international career in which ‘Captain Everything’ has both carried and transformed a nation like few other athletes in the history of Canadian sport. #ThankYouSinc 🐐”

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In another post, Canada Soccer, Sinclair's home since 2000, rounded up some of the icon's greatest accomplishments.

According to the organization, in the decorated striker's 327 career international “A” appearances, she has racked up 190 goals, making her the all-time highest goal-scorer in international soccer. (Cristiano Ronaldo, the top goal-scorer in men's international soccer, has 127.)

A two-time Canadian Athlete of the Year, Sinclair has helped her country win three Olympic medals, one gold and one bronze. She was also named Canada Soccer Player of the Year a record 14 times, and was the first-ever soccer player appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

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In a statement, Charmaine Crooks, president of Canada Soccer, congratulated Sinclair on “a stellar career that has been extraordinary and inspiring both on and off the field.”

“While her days as an active Women’s National Team player are coming to an end, her legacy will endure in the hearts and ambitions of so many young athletes across Canada and around the world,” Crooks added.

Bev Priestman, head coach of the Women’s National Team, also shared a message following Sinclair’s retirement announcement.

“Very few players can lace up their boots and transcend a sport both in this country and globally,” she wrote. “Christine has done just that — both as a player and a person. She is known and admired by all Canadians and has been pivotal in every single country stopping moment.”

Priestman continued, “I feel very fortunate and privileged to have worked with Christine, the greatest of all time, not only in what she has done but in how she has done it. The moment when Christine’s last kick or final whistle goes for this country, she can leave the field knowing she has changed this game forever,​ inspired an entire generation, and paved a better future for all through her work off the pitch.”

“That is one tremendous legacy,” she concluded.

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Sinclair shared a message of her own in the form of a heartfelt letter addressed to her younger, pre-national team self.

In the letter, which she shared on Instagram, the striker wrote, “Dear Christine, You’re 16 years old and things are about to change, quickly.”

“Please don’t be too awkward,” she told herself. “You are a national team player now; you are exactly where you belong. Trust yourself.”

In the message, Sinclair recalled how “overwhelming” it was, and told her teenage self that the goal-scoring she demonstrated in her first tournament would “become your signature for the rest of your playing career.”

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“From here on out, the game will change so much,” she wrote, and went on to tell herself that “pretty soon you’ll discover things aren’t so rosy behind the scenes.”

“You’ll learn Canadian women’s national team players were playing for $10 a day,” she continued. “You’ll hear the prize money for the Women’s World Cup is going to increase, only for the men’s prize money to increase by more, widening the pay gap. You’ll witness young girls slip through the developmental cracks because of the lack of a legitimate pathway to the national team.

“This is when you decide to fight back. While people will know you for your accomplishments on the pitch, they will remember you for how you transcended the painted white lines. Creating equity is what you will be most proud of. You will stand up to your federation to push forward on a landmark equal-pay agreement for the national team. You will help announce that a domestic professional women’s football league is coming to Canada. You will inspire generations of young girls to kick a soccer ball for the first time with real dreams of playing professionally. And you better believe we will continue to fight for what’s right. For equality for past, present and future generations.”

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Toward the end of her letter, Sinclair wrote, “I’m writing to you 23 years, six World Cups, four Olympic Games, 327 caps and 190 international goals after it all began.”

“Your work ethic, your desire to be better and your mentality of never being satisfied are what sets you apart,” she wrote. “Here I am preparing to tie the bow on an unbelievable international career shared with so many incredible teammates, coaches, support staff, fans and of course family. We are not here without them. Here I am in the 90th minute of our journey.”

After concluding her heartfelt message, the striker hinted that while her international career is concluding soon, there may be another go-around with her National Women’s Soccer League team, the Portland Thorns, in the future. “P.S. – Portland, how about one more year?” she teased.

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