Canada is heading back to the World Cup! The Canadian women’s national soccer team is making their seventh appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup with Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair once again at its helm.
Christine is the world’s all-time leading goal-scorer (men or women) with 190 goals in 323 senior appearances. She has been the captain of the national team since 2006 and has been named Canadian Female Soccer Player of the Year 14 times, nominated seven times for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, and won three Olympic medals, including a history-making gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
2023 will be Christine’s sixth World Cup, with Canada’s first match taking place on July 20. “Honestly as of right now, my mindset is just to enjoy it,” she said in a press conference. “I’m a perfectionist and I always put so much pressure and stress upon myself that my goal is enjoy this World Cup. My family’s coming down. It’s the first time they really travelled to watch me play.
“I just want to create amazing memories. And then on the pitch, it’s our first time entering the tournament as (Olympic) champions. So, we’ve got a target on our back, and we want to prove to the world that what we did in Tokyo wasn’t a one-time thing.”
“Christine Sinclair is Canadian Soccer”
With a career now spanning over two decades with an impressive list of awards and accolades, Christine’s impact on Canadian soccer and the global women’s game has solidified her as one of the greatest players in history. She is often credited with building Canadian soccer into what it is today, with her former teammate Diana Matheson recently writing in an article for CBC Sports:
Christine is Canadian soccer. People got to know Canadian soccer because of the women’s program, and that came down to Sinc. Everything that happened since she joined the national team, you can draw a straight line back to her influence. The game of soccer in Canada would not be where it is today without her.
I don’t know if people fully realize what she has done. I know almost everyone recognizes her. I’ve seen people give themselves whiplash, doing a double take seeing Sinc on the street. Maybe it’s one of those things people will appreciate more as the years go by. The greatest scorer in the history of the world’s most popular game is a Canadian woman. That’s unbelievable.
Christine made her Canadian soccer debut at the 2000 Algarve Cup where, at the age of 16, she made her first national goal. Now, at the age of 40, Christine continues to be a “talismanic figure”, as written in an article by the Canadian Press, that unites and fuels the team.
In an article with CP24, defender Shelina Zadorsky calls Christine “a hero to so many Canadians, not just her teammates.”
“Her humility has inspired me so much to be a better player, be a better leader and person,” she added.
A Dynamo On and Off the Field
Christine’s impact extends far beyond the soccer field as she is an active advocate for women’s sports and gender equality. Most recently she lent her voice in the equal pay dispute with Canada Soccer.
Just months ahead of the 2023 World Cup, Canada Soccer made severe budget cuts to the women’s program. In response, the Olympic champions banded together to demand financial support equal to what the men received ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
With Christine leading the charge, the women’s national team secured an interim agreement that mirrored the men’s national team.
Global Soccer Star and Bestselling Author
In 2022, Christine released her memoir, Playing the Long Game, where she reflects on both her exhilarating successes and heartbreaking defeats. She worked with award-winning journalist and broadcaster Stephen Brunt who has followed her career for decades.
There’s no doubt that Christine’s leadership and contributions to women’s soccer have helped elevate the sport’s status in Canada and pave the way for future generations of female athletes. Her memoir serves as a playbook of earned wisdom on the value of determination, team spirit, and real leadership in creating change, overcoming obstacles, and making an impact.
Contact us to learn more about Christine and how to book her for your next event.
