The football world celebrated Christine Sinclair’s record-breaking achievement at The Best FIFA Football Awards on Thursday 17 December 2020. Sinclair broke the world’s all-time international goalscoring record with her 185th goal for Canada on 29 January 2020 at the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, just over a week before Canada qualified for the Olympic Games.
When asked what was her favourite goal so far after 21 years of international football, she picked her game-winning goal from the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, the 6 June match at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton that set the Canadian attendance record for an in-stadia, Canadian national teams sporting event played in Canada.
“Not a lot of people get to play in a FIFA World Cup, never mind a home FIFA World Cup, so to be able to score a goal in the last minute, to win that opening game in front of 53,058 screaming Canadians, it’s a moment that I never thought I’d see in my career.,” said Sinclair. “Just to be part of that game in my country, I’ll never forget that one.”
Sinclair, an inspiration around the world, is a 14-time Canadian Player of the Year award winner. In 2020, her record-breaking goal was selected the Canada Soccer Moment of the Year. When asked what advice she would give her younger self, she underlined the importance of “chasing your dreams.”
“Just chase your dreams,” said Sinclair. “The world of women’s football is changing and continues to grow, so there are more and more opportunities available for girls. Football was my vehicle, but whether a young kid is dreaming of becoming a doctor or a lawyer, all I have to say is go for it, put in that extra work. Everyone here today is living proof that sometimes those crazy dreams you have as a youngster do come true. Just give everything you’ve got and who knows what can happen.”
CHRISTINE SINCLAIR! THE ALL TIME INTERNATIONAL GOAL SCORING RECORD HAS BEEN BROKEN!!!#Sincy185 #CANWNT pic.twitter.com/E707CKgX3u — Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) January 29, 2020
Thank you to EVERYONE for all the messages…I’m slightly overwhelmed. Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, staff, friends and family.185 would not have been possible without you. pic.twitter.com/fP6vD43PUW — Christine Sinclair (@sincy12) January 30, 2020
The greatest goalscorer of all-time is ?? Canadian#ThisHappened2020 #Sincy185 ? pic.twitter.com/p3tMkRh7Dz — Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) December 10, 2020
“Those crazy dreams you have as a kid… Sometimes they come true.” Christine Sinclair makes history by scoring her 185th international goal in Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying, making her the new all-time record holder ? #Sinclair185 #WeBelong @CanadaSoccerEN pic.twitter.com/tkfYB5LqjM — Concacaf (@Concacaf) January 29, 2020
\u26bd\ufe0f@TeamCanada's Christine Sinclair scored her first international goal in 2000 as a 16-year-old. Now, she has set the world record for most international goals of any football player, male or female. Sinclair broke Abby Wambach's previous record of 184 goals.@sincy12 @FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/uasHbQuGgK — Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) January 29, 2020
All-time International goalscoring record holder. #Sincy185 #CanWNT ?? pic.twitter.com/GpBSI5cSQH — Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) January 29, 2020