Christine Sinclair, a veteran player in the NWSL with the Portland Thorns and widely regarded as the greatest figure in Canadian soccer, revealed on Friday that she will retire at the end of the 2024 season.

Currently, Portland holds a record of 8 wins, 4 losses, and 9 draws, placing them seventh in the NWSL standings. The regular season concludes on November 3, with playoffs commencing on November 9.

Sinclair’s retirement news follows that of American star Alex Morgan, who played her last NWSL match on September 8. However, Sinclair’s decision was anticipated, as she had already retired from international play last October, having turned 41 in June.

“Soccer has been my passion since I was 4 years old, and it has taken me on a journey I could never have imagined,” Sinclair shared in her social media announcement. “I still feel the same passion I did as a young girl growing up in Burnaby, BC, but as I prepare to hang up my playing boots, I promise to direct that passion in a new direction.

“My goal is to continue promoting the game I love and inspire the next generation.”

Sinclair has been an integral part of the Portland soccer community for over 20 years.

As an All-American at the University of Portland from 2001 to 2004, she helped lead the Pilots to two national championships (2002 and 2004), sparking a soccer frenzy throughout the Rose City. When the NWSL was created in 2013, Sinclair naturally chose to join the Thorns, expressing her desire to only play in Portland. Last season, she remained one of five players who had spent the entire 11 years of the league’s history with one team.

Recognized as one of the most dangerous strikers in soccer history, Sinclair is the all-time top scorer in international soccer, both men’s and women’s, with 190 goals in 331 matches. (In contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo has netted 132 goals in 214 games for Portugal.) Within the NWSL, Sinclair has managed to score 79 career goals — 64 during regular seasons — over 12 seasons, ranking her third in all-time NWSL history, behind Sam Kerr (77) and Lynn Williams (67).

One of Sinclair’s most significant international achievements occurred in the summer of 2021 when she led Canada to capture the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. This feat earned her respect and admiration from soccer icons worldwide, highlighting the esteem Sinclair built over her illustrious career. She also contributed to Canada’s bronze medal performances at the 2012 Olympics and the 2016 Rio Games. In NWSL play, Sinclair guided the Thorns to three championships in 2013, 2017, and 2022.

While her accomplishments are vast and impressive, Sinclair and the Canadian team did not achieve substantial success at the World Cup. Nevertheless, she is recognized as one of only five athletes to have participated in six Women’s World Cups and one of just three to score in five of those tournaments.