Canadian soccer icon Christine Sinclair, who played a pivotal role in the Portland Thorns' NWSL success, has announced her retirement from the game. Sinclair, 41, will finish out the current season with the Thorns before hanging up her boots.
Christine Sinclair, one of the most decorated players in the history of women's soccer, has announced her retirement from the game. The Portland Thorns legend, who has been a cornerstone of the NWSL team since its inception in 2013, will finish out the current season with the club before calling it a career.
Sinclair, 41, retired from the Canadian national team last year, finishing her international career as the world's top goalscorer among both women and men with an astonishing 190 goals. She was a member of the Canadian team that won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Games.
With the Portland Thorns, Sinclair has helped the team win three NWSL championships, including the inaugural title in 2013. She scored Portland's first all-time goal in that match against FC Kansas City. Over 11 seasons, she has scored a club-record 64 goals, ranking her third all-time in the league.
Sinclair is among the most decorated players in NWSL history. She was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 2013 and won the Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals in the league in 2016. She has also been named to the NWSL Best XI team six times.
Off the field, Sinclair has been a vocal advocate for women's soccer and gender equality. She was named to the FIFA Legends Committee in 2020 and is currently a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission.
Sinclair's retirement is a major loss for the NWSL and the Portland Thorns. She has been a role model for young players and has helped to raise the profile of women's soccer in North America. She will be remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
The Portland Thorns will honor Sinclair before their final regular season home game on November 1.
