PORTLAND, Ore. – Canada Soccer today announced that Portland Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair has been named the 2018 Canadian Player of the Year, as voted on by Canadian media and coaches. The award celebrates Canada Soccer’s top footballers, female and male, in recognition of their 2018 achievements with both the national team and their respective clubs.
It marks the 14th time in her 19th year with the Canada Women’s National Team that she has won this award.
In her sixth season with Thorns FC in 2018, Sinclair, 35, helped guide Portland to a second consecutive trip to the NWSL Championship. Named to the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, Sinclair recorded nine goals and six assists and was the only Portland player to start all 24 games during the regular season, playing every minute of every match. An NWSL Second XI selection in 2018, Sinclair’s six assists ranked tied for third among players in the NWSL. In addition, she was named Supporters’ Player of the Year and reached several milestones during the 2018 campaign, which included becoming the third player in league history to tally 40 career goals and playing in her 100th career match for Thorns FC.
At the international level, Sinclair helped Canada qualify for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Currently ranked second all-time in international scoring with 177 goals in 274 career appearances, Sinclair registered eight goals and two assists in 12 appearances for Canada in 2018. In five games (4 starts) during the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship, Sinclair scored four goals and added one assist.
