Canada Soccer announced that Christine Sinclair has been voted their Women’s National Team winner for the 2016 Canadian Players of the Year award, in a vote shared equally by coaches and media.
“Christine Sinclair is such a great Canadian and this is reflected in her leadership of our team, not only in the way that she can inspire her teammates, but also in the way that she can inspire all Canadians – she thoroughly deserves this award,” Canada Head Coach John Herdman told canadasoccer.com.
Sinclair was a star for both country and club in 2016, winning an Olympic bronze medal for Canada and the NWSL Shield with Portland Thorns FC.
“There have been so many highlights for her in 2016, including her 250th international appearance and becoming the second-highest goalscorer of all-time, while more importantly for the team she consistently delivered in the biggest moments when it mattered most.”
She got the winning goal in the bronze medal match at Rio, was named the NWSL Player of the Olympic Games and scored four goals in the last five games to help Portland clinch top spot in the NWSL.
In 2016, she also won her seventh CONCACAF medal after Canada finished second at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. In the match that clinched Canada’s spot at Rio, she scored an all-world “golaso” against Costa Rica after juggling the ball, spinning, and volleying her left-footed shot into the net off the inside of the crossbar. Click here for highlights.
“I will always remember that goal against Costa Rica to ensure our Olympic qualification and her composed finish against Brazil that sealed the bronze medal for Canada,” said Herdman.
Also in 2016, Christine became the world’s second-best goalscorer with her 159th international goal, surpassing Mia Hamm in February (she finished the year at 165 goals in 250 matches).
Sinclair finished the vote ahead of runner-up Ashley Lawrence, followed by Janine Beckie, Kadeisha Buchanan, Jessie Fleming, and Sophie Schmidt.
