Will Christine Sinclair Score in Her Last Match for Team Canada Tonight?

To honour the star, BC Place will be renamed to ‘Christine Sinclair Place’ for one night.

The 40-year-old Sinclair, who hails from Burnaby, British Columbia, has played 330 games for Team Canada. She has the distinction of being the highest-scoring player in international soccer history, amongst women and men, with 190 goals.

Her final match will be played against Australia, the team that knocked Canada out of the last Women’s World Cup.

“What I would love most would be a win with a shutout at home in front of our fans,” fellow retiree and teammate Sophie Schmidt said. “Sincy scoring a goal, maybe me assisting it. Honestly that is ideal. A win for our fans and giving them something to celebrate.”

“It hit me when I was packing for camp coming here,” Sinclair said. “Oh my god, this is going to be the last time I’m packing for national team camp.”

Former teammate Diana Matheson will be watching from the stands tonight, and has a good feeling about Sinclair going out with a bang.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Sinc didn’t have a bit of magic and tucked one in the back of the net this last game,” Matheson said. “Whether that’s a burst of speed, or from where she’s been in more recent years, coming off the front of the defenders, getting the ball a little deeper, making something happen, following up the play and tucking one in the net.”

Sinclair played her first match for the national team on March 12, 2000, in a 4-0 loss to China. Just two days later she got her first goal, against Norway.

“I think all British Columbias are incredibly proud of Christine Sinclair and her remarkable run in women’s soccer,” BC Premier David Eby said. “She’s been an inspiration to British Columbias across the province, not just women and girls, but all British Columbians and Canadians. We are incredibly proud of her legacy.”

Although this will be her last game with Team Canada, Sinclair plans to play one more season with her NWSL club – the Portland Thorns.