Christine Sinclair keeps adding to her legacy. Already the greatest international goal scorer of all time — men or women — the Canadian forward added to her tally with another spectacular strike in a 2-2 friendly draw against Nigeria on Monday. Sinc’s 189th goal for the Canucks was one of her best.
Sinclair passed Abby Wambach’s mark of 184 international goals in 2020 and has since added a few more, including Monday night, when she dispossessed a defender near midfield then chipped keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie from about 40 yards out. Sinclair, a right-footed forward, used her left to curl the ball over and around Nnadozie, off the post and in.
Christine Sinclair Goal vs. Nigeria
GOAL
OH MY WORD CHRISTINE SINCLAIRYou can't do it to 'em like that #CanWNT level 1-1 vs. Nigeria at the start of the 2nd half #CanXNT | https://t.co/7JFAUhgjL6 pic.twitter.com/9Pk5iJcKpR
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) April 12, 2022
Sinclair is an absolute legend. Since winning an NCAA title with Megan Rapinoe at Portland in 2005, she’s embarked on a professional career that’s included four league titles. Her greatest achievement came last summer when, as a 38-year-old, she helped Canada claim its first Olympic soccer gold medal.
Sinclair now has 189 goals in 310 appearances for Canada, about a goal every 0.61 matches. That’s just about the same pace of Cristiano Ronaldo, the men’s top international goal scorer with 115 goals from 186 matches.
After beating Nigeria 2-0 on Friday — goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé’s final Canada match — the Canucks needed a late equalizer from Shelina Zadorsky to secure a draw with Nigeria on Monday night. Ifeoma Onumonu opened the scoring for the Super Falcons with a clever back-heel goal five minutes in, and Rasheedat Ajibade made it 2-1 with a cross/shot that found its way into the back of the net in the 53rd minute.
Canada will join the USWNT at the W Concacaf Championship this summer in hopes of qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup and 2024 Olympics.
