Canada’s Christine Sinclair has broken the all-time international goals record across men’s and women’s football.
Sinclair scored her 185th international goal — overtaking the 184 scored by US Women’s National Team legend Abby Wambach — in Canada’s Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifiers game against Saint Kitts and Nevis on January 29.
Concacaf President and FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani saw first-hand the amazing impact Sinclair had on the sport during his many years involved in football in Canada, including his previous role as President of the Canada Soccer Association.
“Congratulations to Christine for this incredible achievement. It is an amazing feat and she deserves all the credit and accolades she will rightly receive,” said Montagliani.
“To play elite international football for 20 years at the very top level – in multiple World Cups, Olympic Games and Concacaf Women’s Championships – is remarkable in itself. To have scored an all-time international record goal haul, and to still be going strong, is truly outstanding.
“Christine’s achievements have made her an icon in Canada. She transcends the sport and is a wonderful role model for people across the country.
“I hope she continues leading the line for the national team and scoring goals, and I thank her for the enormous contribution she has made to the sport in Canada, the Concacaf region and across the world.”
Concacaf’s Head of Women’s Football Karina LeBlanc played in the Canada Women’s National team for many years with Sinclair and added her own praise for her former team-mate:
“Christine, or ‘Sinc’ as she will always be known to me and her team-mates, is a sporting legend in Canada and a women’s football icon across the world. She has always worked incredibly hard and deserves all the praise that will come with setting this record.
“I recall the first time she trained with us as a sixteen-year-old – her talent was evident right from the get-go and it very quickly became apparent that she had the work ethic to match it. It was clear she would become a star with the composure and calmness she had in front of the goal.
“I know the sacrifices she has made, and the challenges she has faced throughout her extraordinary career so far. She is one of the most humble athletes you will ever meet who never wants to speak about herself or her career.
“I am so happy for her and consider it a privilege to have represented the Canadian Women’s National Team with her for most of my career. I was a better player, teammate and person because of her.”
The Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifiers will determine which of the region’s teams earn the two available spots at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The group stages are currently being played in Edinburg and Houston, Texas. The semi-finals and final will take place in Los Angeles on February 7th and February 9th respectively.
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