
<p>Christine Sinclair, the world’s most prolific international goalscorer and a beloved sporting icon in Canada has announced her international retirement.</p>



<p>This decision marks the culmination of an extraordinary 24-year international career. During the past two decades, she has played a pivotal role in transforming the sport in her nation.</p>



<p>The long-time <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/canada-national-team-tv-schedule/">Canucks</a> captain has shared her intention to conclude her career with the national team later this year. She will not be participating in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/olympics-soccer-schedule-and-tv-guide/">2024 Olympics</a>. This means Canada will be without her as they defend the Olympic gold medal they earned at the Tokyo Games.</p>



<h2>What did Christine Sinclair say about Canada retirement?</h2>



<p>In a touching and heartfelt letter that she addressed to her 16-year-old self, Christine Sinclair’s words were published in the Canadian newspaper <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-christine-sinclair-retirement-letter-to-younger-self/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Globe and Mail</a>.</p>



<p>“I’m writing to you 23 years, six World Cups, four Olympic Games, 327 caps and 190 international goals after it all began.</p>



<p>“Reading this, ‘What more could there be?’ you’ll ask. If you become the most prolific goal scorer of all-time and win an Olympic gold medal, then things must go smoothly, right? Well, pretty soon you’ll discover things aren’t so rosy behind the scenes,” Sinclair writes.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a career for Christine Sinclair 👏🇨🇦 <a href="https://t.co/rInyQomenP">pic.twitter.com/rInyQomenP</a></p>— TSN (@TSN_Sports) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1715514372976435666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>“You’ll learn Canadian women’s national team players were playing for $10 a day. You will hear the prize money for the Women’s World Cup is going to increase, only for the men’s prize money to increase by more, widening the pay gap. You’ll witness young girls slip though the developmental cracks because of the lack of a legitimate pathway to the national team.</p>



<p>“You will stand up to your federation to push forward on a landmark equal pay agreement for the national team. You’ll help announce that a domestic professional women’s football league is coming to Canada. You will inspire generations of young girls to kick a soccer ball for the first time with real dreams of playing professionally. And you better believe we will continue to fight for what’s right. For equality for past, present and future generations.”</p>



<p>“Here I am preparing to tie the bow on an unbelievable international career shared with so many incredible teammates, coaches, support staff, fans and of course family. We are not here without them. Here I am in the 90th minute of our journey.”</p>



<h2>What does this mean for her club career?</h2>



<p>While retiring from international play, Sinclair has expressed her intention to continue her professional career. Sinclair was a forward for the Portland Thorns in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-soccer-tv-schedule/">National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)</a> since 2013. The superstar plans to extend her career in the NWSL for the upcoming season.</p>



<p>The 40-year-old concluded her letter with a playful and hopeful note, saying, “P.S. – Portland, how about one more year?”</p>



<p>The forward’s farewell matches will be held in Canada before the end of the year. Although no official announcements have been made, it’s expected that a substantial ceremony will be organized, as per <a href="https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/burnaby-soccer-icon-christine-sinclair-retiring-from-canadian-national-team-7711968" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Burnaby Now</a>.</p>



<p>With only two international windows remaining on the 2023 FIFA calendar, fans will have few opportunities to see Sinclair again. Bev Priestman’s players will play against Brazil on October 28, and again three days later.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO &amp; ZUMA Wire</p>


Record holder Christine Sinclair makes emotional Canada choice

Christine Sinclair, an influential player for Canada, has made a challenging decision regarding her international career

Record holder Christine Sinclair makes emotional Canada choice -


<p>United States women’s national team captain Becky Sauerbrunn will not be joining her teammates at the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-tv-schedule/">2023 Women’s World Cup</a>. The 38-year-old defender suffered a foot injury back in April and will not recover in time. It will be the team’s first World Cup without Sauerbrunn since 2007.</p>



<p>“Heartbroken isn’t even the half of it,” Sauerbrunn wrote on her <a href="https://twitter.com/beckysauerbrunn/status/1669886557497733126" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">official Twitter page</a>. </p>



<p>“I had hoped and worked and hoped some more to make it back in time to help lead the team at this World Cup, but after lots of discussion, unfortunately, there’s just too much variability in my return to play timeline. So, I’ll be home, working as hard as I can to get back on the field as quickly as I can.”</p>



<p>“It’s been an honor to work and play alongside this incredible group of athletes,” continued Sauerbrunn. </p>



<p>“They have my unwavering support. And, more importantly, they have my unyielding belief. This program has always been about the collective and I have no doubt that the twenty-three players on the final roster have everything they need – in their feet, their heads and their hearts – to bring our fifth trophy home.”</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">14 – The <a href="https://twitter.com/USWNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USWNT</a> is unbeaten in the 14 <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWWC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAWWC</a> matches in which Becky Sauerbrunn has played (W13 D1), conceding 7 total goals in those games. Anchor. <a href="https://t.co/tJ0kL5iIuy">pic.twitter.com/tJ0kL5iIuy</a></p>— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJack/status/1669829488115429379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Defender has ninth-most caps in USWNT history</h2>



<p>Sauerbrunn has been a mainstay in the USWNT back line for over a decade. In fact, the defender helped the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-soccer-tv-schedule/">Americans</a> triumph at the 2015 and 2019 Women’s World Cups. She has collected an astounding 216 total caps for her country.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/j4cuaAdZmO">pic.twitter.com/j4cuaAdZmO</a></p>— Becky Sauerbrunn (@beckysauerbrunn) <a href="https://twitter.com/beckysauerbrunn/status/1669886557497733126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Australia and New Zealand are set to host the upcoming 2023 Women’s World Cup. The tournament will begin in July, with the USWNT opening their tournament against Vietnam on July 22nd. The Americans retained their number one spot in the recently updated <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20230609" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FIFA rankings</a> and are considered favorites to bring the trophy back to North America.</p>



<h2>Full Women’s World Cup roster expected soon</h2>



<p>USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski is expected to release his team’s full World Cup roster next week.</p>



<p>The Yanks will play a friendly match against Wales before departing for the World Cup. Wales will travel to San Jose to face the USWNT on July 9th at PayPal Park, the home of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">MLS</a>‘ San Jose Earthquakes.</p>



<p>Photo credit: <strong>IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</strong></p>


United States women's national team captain Becky Sauerbrunn has announced that injury will keep her out of the 2023 World Cup

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Women's Football"

Canada

Record holder Christine Sinclair makes emotional Canada choice

USWNT

USWNT dealt blow as Becky Sauerbrunn ruled out of World Cup