Canadian international Christine Sinclair announces retirement from professional soccer at NWSL season's end

The world's all-time leading international goal scorer will step away from soccer sometime in November. Canadian forward Christine Sinclair announced her retirement from professional soccer on Friday. She previously said farewell to the international stage in 2023, but will fully bid farewell to the sport after her club season concludes with Portland Thorns FC. The club will honor their long-time captain at their final regular season match on Nov. 1 against Angel City FC at Providence Park in Oregon.

Sinclair spent time in two U.S. women's professional soccer leagues, the NWSL and WPS (the NWSL's predecessor), but has played the entirety of her NWSL career with Portland, a city she has called home since 2001 when she attended the University of Portland. She won early and often in her playing career, including NCAA National Championships in 2002 and 2005.

As women's pro soccer evolved, Sinclair won more titles, a 2006 USL W-League Championship with Vancouver Whitecaps, and WPS Championships in 2010 with FC Gold Pride and 2011 with Western New York Flash.

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She is the only player to be with the Thorns franchise throughout its 12-year existence and is only one of three players to spend all 12 campaigns with one NWSL club. Her extensive time with the team includes several club records. Most games played (195), games started (176), and regular season goals (64) -- a scoring record that is third place in league history.

It is with the Thorns that Sinclair won six additional club championships. She's won three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022) and two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), along with the 2020 Fall Series, and 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup.

Sinclair has scored more goals internationally (190) than any athlete, man or woman, and won the gold medal with Canada at the Tokyo Olympics. Ahead of her international retirement, she told media that her wishes were to retire quietly while helping the team qualify go the Paris Games.

"I wanted to be part of the group to help the team qualify for Paris, for the team, but for me personally it was important," Sinclair said. "I thought that was going to be it and I was going to walk off and not say a word ... My friends and family convinced me: `You can't just leave. You owe it to Canada to come out and play these games,'" she said. 

Her international resume covers 23 years, and along with leading the world in goals scored, she led the nation in Games played (331) and global accolades. She has played in six FIFA women's World Cups and four Summer Olympics. Along with her gold medal during the Tokyo Games, she earned bronze medals during the 2012 and 2016 Summer Games.