Canadian record-breaker Sinclair to retire at end of season

Canadian striker Christine Sinclair, the all-time top scorer in international football, says she is retiring from the game at the end of the current National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.

The 41-year-old who scored 190 international goals in 331 appearances retired from national team duty in December last year but has continued to play for her club Portland Thorns.

Sinclair joined the Thorns for their inaugural season and has been with the club for the full 12 years of its existence.

The club said that she will be honoured at her final regular season game against Angel City FC on November 1. The Thorns remain in contention for a place in the NWSL playoffs.

“Portland, thank you will never be enough.Soccer has been my passion since I was four years old and it has taken me on a journey I could never have imagined,” Sinclair wrote on Instagram.

“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,” she added.

Sinclair played for Canada for 23 years and holds both the all-time appearance (331) and goals (190) record for her country.

The centre-forward played in six women’s World Cups and four Summer Olympic Games, winning the gold Medal in 2021 and the bronze medal in 2012 and 2016.