Two goals away from surpassing the world record of 184 goals, Christine Sinclair has been named the Canada Soccer player of the decade. The Canadian Soccer Association honoured Chrisine with this award in recognition of her “unparalleled 10 years of world-class performances in which she continued to build a legacy as one of Canada’s greatest athletes of all time.”
Captain of the Canadian Women’s Soccer Team, Christine was just 16 when she made her debut in Canadian soccer. This decade has seen her lead Canada to back-to-back Olympic bronze models in 2012 and 2016. She is perhaps best known for the hat-trick she scored in the semi-final match against the USA during the 2012 London Olympic Games, which led her to be the flag-bearer at the 2012 closing ceremonies.
In a CBC article, Canada Soccer president Steven Reed said in a statement, “Christine Sinclair is a once-in-a-generation athlete that has been at the heart of Canadian sport for over 20 years, but what she accomplished in the past 10 years has changed the sport forever in our country. Christine is the Canada Soccer player of the decade and unquestionably one of the greatest and most-loved athletes Canada has ever watched.”
Christine received the 2012 Lou Marsh Trophy and the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award winner, was named the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) championship MVP in 2011, and is a four-time finalist for FIFA World player of the year. She is also the first soccer player appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada and the first to have her name engraved on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Off the field, Christine shares her enthusiasm for sport and her secrets of success with audiences everywhere, speaking to the team work, passion, and competitive nature she needed to rise to the top and overcome obstacles in her way.
Interested in learning more about Christine and what she can bring to your next event? Email us at [email protected].