FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Christine Sinclair: The 'silent assassin' that is not silent anymore
Christine Sinclair, Canada's leading goal-scorer, is gearing up for her sixth World Cup. Often regarded as a ‘silent assassin’, she has recently become a strong voice, addressing vital topics such as equal pay and family illnesses. Olympics.com examines her remarkable international career, exploring how she finds strength and determination through personal challenges.
Football
Christine Sinclair dominates as the leading goalscorer in international football, having netted an impressive 190 goals in 323 appearances for Canada ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
Despite a glittering career thus far, the self-confessed ‘awkwardly shy’ 40 year-old has often remained quiet away from the pitch.
Until now.
In the run up to her sixth World Cup, the Canadian captain has been vocal about a number of issues and setbacks that she’s witnessed throughout her career; from equal pay disputes to family illnesses.
Talking on a recent podcast with NBC, the 14-time Canadian Player of the Year spoke about the power of using her voice to inspire change.
With the World Cup just days away, Sinclair assumes a role of both athlete and advocate, leaving an indelible mark on the sport she cherishes.
As the world eagerly awaits Sinclair's leadership on the grand stage, Olympics.com takes a reflective journey through her incredible career thus far, capturing the essence of a remarkable athlete leaving a spectacular legacy.
Christine Sinclair: From BC to beyond
The British Columbian-born striker began playing football at the age of four and quickly established herself as a talented player among her peers.
At just 11 years old, she joined British Columbia's under-14 girls all-star team and, a mere five years later, made her senior Canadian debut at the 2000 Algarve Cup.
In addition to her record-breaking goal tally, Sinclair has led her nation to various triumphs, including an Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, victories at the 2010 CONCACAF Championships, 2011 Pan American Games, 2016 Algarve Cup, and three Cyprus Women's Cups.
Despite her remarkable achievements, the 40-year-old striker has often chosen to shy away from the spotlight, allowing her football prowess to speak for itself.
However, as she sets her sights on a World Cup medal, she has become more vocal than ever, fearlessly voicing her concerns about the inequalities faced by female footballers throughout their careers.
Christine Sinclair celebrates with teammates following Canada's gold medal victory in the Gold Medal Match Women's Football match between Canada and Sweden at International Stadium Yokohama on August 06, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Canada Soccer: Equal pay dispute
Just a few months ago, it was unknown as to whether the Canadian women’s soccer team would board their flight to Australia for this summer’s world cup.
The cause of concern was an ongoing dispute between the team and Canada Soccer (CSA) regarding equal pay.
Captain Sinclair took charge and insisted that a fair pay deal must be reached on behalf of her and her teammates before they embark on their journey to the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Speaking earlier in the year, she emphasised, "We're not at a point where we're not getting on a plane, but time's coming where we want it done so as players we're not having to deal with it while we're trying to prepare."
The women's team directly conveyed to CSA that a deal must be in place for at least the World Cup and the current year before they depart.
“Us as a women's team have flat out told the CSA that we need a deal in place for at least the World Cup and this year before we head down there. So obviously we're getting close. I think it will happen. Will it be a long-term deal? No. But something will be done before the World Cup starts."
As a remarkable leader on the field, fans were unaccustomed to seeing Sinclair take such a vocal stance off the pitch.
The impact of her advocacy became evident when, in March 2023, just three months before the team's scheduled departure to Australia, CSA announced an interim funding agreement for Canada women, while negotiations for a final collective deal were ongoing.
This interim agreement mirrored that of the men's national team players, encompassing per-game incentives and results-based compensation.
Sinclair opened up about the challenges athletes face behind closed doors, where they often suffer in silence. Speaking to NBC, she highlighted, "People just see what happens on the soccer field and they don't see what goes on behind the scenes."
Sinclair is no stranger to struggling behind closed doors, an experience she has all too familiarized herself with.
Christine Sinclair: Off the pitch
Sinclair's mother, Sandra, served as her youth soccer coach throughout her childhood.
It was around the age of 10 that Sinclair started to notice changes in her mother’s health and mobility.
When the Canadian captain was just 12 years old, her mother revealed that she was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - a lifelong condition that affects the brain and nerves, and can cause difficulties with mobility, balance, sensation and vision.
“I didn’t understand what an MS diagnosis meant,” the Olympic gold medallist told NBC. “All I could see was her physical capabilities being taken away from her; she was walking with a cane… At that moment in time, I didn’t know what that meant for the rest of her life.”
Sandra Sinclair battled MS for 40 years until her passing in 2022, leading Christine to miss the inaugural Arnold Clarke Cup tournament in England. Towards the end of her mother's life, Sinclair embarked on writing her memoir, sharing the realities of growing up with a parent suffering from MS. Despite her mother's approval, the process of writing was occasionally painful for the Canadian striker, while other times, she found it therapeutic.
Published just months after her mother's passing, the memoir, titled "Playing The Long Game," offered an intimate glimpse into their journey together.
"I witnessed her struggles, her unwavering determination, and her brave confrontation with the world," Sinclair said about her mother. "She taught me invaluable perspectives on life. Even on days when I thought I was facing challenges, her example reminded me that in the grand scheme of things, I had nothing to complain about."
Christine Sinclair will captain Canada this summer at the 2023 Women's World Cup
Christine Sinclair: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Christine Sinclair will captain Canada at the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer in Australia and New Zealand.
Canada are in Group B and will kick off their World Cup campaign against Nigeria on July 20th at 03:30 (CET) in Melbourne.
They will go on to play the Republic of Ireland on July 26th, and then co-hosts Australia on July 31st.
Find the entire FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 schedule here.