Topics: Canada, Christine Sinclair, USWNT, Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifiers, Burnaby, Brittish Columbia, FIFA Women's World Cup, University of Portland, Algarve Cup, NCAA Championship, Abby Wambach, University of Florida, Women's Professional League, FC Gold P
Christine Sinclair, 36, is now the all-time top scorer of international goals amongst men and women after scoring her 184th and 185th goals for Canada at the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifiers against Saint Kitts and Nevis. Let’s take a look at one of the most low-key and fantastic football careers in Canada’s ace Christine Sinclair.

Unless you keep up with the NWSL or international women's football other than the USWNT, then I'm sure you probably had no idea who Sinclair was before Tuesday. There are several reasons as to why people might have not heard of her name before even though she carries one of the most colorful personal careers in the sport over her shoulders.

One of the reasons might be because she is from Canada, pretty much the shadow of the United States in women's football – for the most part. This leads straight to the next reason on why you probably had not heard of her, which is due to the lack of silverware she has earned at the international stage. Or maybe you had not heard of her simply because of the fact that she was not the all-time international goal scorer, yet. But now she is and now you know who Sinclair is. Let's get to know a bit more about the Ace and her long career.

Sinclair's early life

Sinclair, originally from Burnaby, British Columbia, came from a family of footballers. Her father, Bill, and uncles, Brian and Bruce, all played football at an amateur level, and uncles at professional level. Granted that, Sinclair grew up with a football beside her feet and began when she was four years old at an under-7 level. On her road to becoming a professional player, Sinclair went to matches of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in Portland, Oregon, a city that would end up becoming her home for many years.

Sinclair's college and club career

Sinclair had already debuted for Canada's senior team before arriving at the University of Portland. She made her debut at age 16 at the Algarve Cup where she impressed scoring three goals against Norway and Finland. She continued playing for Canada as she represented the University of Portland Pilots from 2001-2005 where she tallied 110 goals and 32 assists. The 5'9 forward led her school to its only two national championships in all sports in 2001 and 2005; in other words, the all-time international football topscorer holds more NCAA Championships than Abby Wambach who won one with the University of Florida in 1998.

You think this video throws it back? Well, Sinclair was eight overall pick by FC Gold Pride in the 2008 WPS International Draft – clearly underrated after dominating the NCAA during her time at Portland – for the leadoff season of Women's Professional Soccer. Alongside the likes of Marta, Camille Abily and Kelley O'Hara, Sinclair helped FC Gold Pride to clinch the 2010 WPS Championship. The Californian franchise ceased after winning the title for lack of funds.

Western New York Flash was quick to negotiate a deal with Sinclair who was key in their 2011 WPS Championship title. She led the team in goals and assists with 10 and eight respectively. Above all, she was named MVP of the final where she scored the Flash's only goal and the game-winning penalty kick.

Portland came calling back for their hometown legend in 2013 when the Portland Thorns announced that the Canadian forward would captain the team in the National Women's Soccer League's inaugural season. And of course, Sinclair did Sinclair things. After finishing third in the regular season, the Thorns went on to advance to defeat FC Kansas City 3-1 in in extra time and dethrone the regular season champions and her former club, the Western New York Flash. The Canadian lifted the first-ever NWSL trophy as joint top scorer of her team with Alex Morgan. Sinclair won the NWSL once again in 2017 leading the Thorns scoring tally with eight goals.

Sinclair's International career

As aforementioned, Canada has struggled at the international stage in terms of winning trophies. The team is always strong, and the nation is known for creating some very good products. 

Sinclair helped Canada Women's National Team to its best-ever finish at a Women's World Cup at the age of 19 in 2004. She scored three goals in Canada's fourth place journey. Canada went downhill from there until the 2012 London Olympics having been knocked out of the 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in group stages.

The 2012 Olympics brought joy back to Canada by the means of a bronze medal, but an early quarterfinal exit in Canada's own 2015 FIFA WWC left a sour taste. Anyhow, the Canadians were awarded third place once again, this time at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Canada did not have success at the 2019 FIFA WWC as they were knocked out at the round-of-16.

Epilogue

But after all these ups and downs, Sinclair has managed to stay healthy and focused on becoming one of the best and she reached her climax at the H-E-B- Park on Tuesday on matchday 1 of the 2020 CWOQ as Canada trounced Saint Kitts and Nevis 11-0.

The 209 caps, 185 goals, 10 of those at World Cups, 24 at the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup, 31 at the Olympic Games, 80 at invitational tournaments and 40 in friendlies over 20 years speaks for itself. Anyhow, the people who probably don't follow the women's game will just remember her as a Canadian who scored a lot of goals, but you and I know that she is far more than that.