Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
Canadian legend Christine Sinclair announced on Friday that she will retire from playing professional football at the end of the season.
The 41-year-old from Burnaby, BC, said in a post on Instagram that she will finish the Women’s National Soccer League campaign with the Portland Thorns, who are scheduled to finish the regular season on November 1.
“Portland, thank you will never be enough,” Sinclair posted with a photo of her huddling with her teammates on the field. “As I finish this last tour, I want to say what a privilege it is 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 the 2016 Games in Rio and the 2012 Games in London.
She finished her international career as the world’s top goalscorer with 190 goals.
She is also one of only five players to appear in six Women’s World Cups, and one of only three players to score in five. But the World Cup trophy eluded her.
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“Christine, your achievements on and off the field have set a new standard in Canadian sport,” Canada Soccer said in a statement. “You have paved the way for future generations, leaving 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 launch of the NWSL in 2013, and over 11 seasons has scored a team-high 64 goals.
She helped the Thorns win their first NWSL championship, before adding additional titles in 2017 and 2022. She scored Portland’s first ever goal in a game against FC Kansas City on April 13, 2013.
“Thorns FC is proud to honor the tremendous career of our very own Christine Sinclair,” the Thorns said in a statement.
“As number 12 retires, we thank her for her long-term commitment to our club and consider ourselves fortunate to be able to witness the greatness and progress she created for football a foot on a global landscape.”
Vancouver Rise FC of the newly formed Northern Super League have teased that Sinclair could take up a role with the club, posting a picture of her with the caption “Something BIG coming soon.”
“I still have the passion as that young four-year-old boy growing up in Burnaby, BC, but as I hang up my playing shoes, I promise to channel it 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 play the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite team in a CONCACAF W Champions Cup match at BC Place in Vancouver on October 15.
–With files from The Associated Press.
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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