Soccer superstar Sinclair posts cryptic video after coach questioned about future

Is extra time about to run out on the prestigious career of Canadian soccer superstar Christine Sinclair?

A cryptic Instagram post by international soccer’s all-time leading goal-scorer caught the attention of the sporting world on Thursday night, with some wondering if a retirement announcement was in the offing.

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The five-second video shows a pair of cleats hanging from a crossbar before fading to a black background featuring a maple leaf, Sinclair’s signature and her No. 12 jersey.

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The 40-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., has played in four Olympic Games for Canada, winning gold with her teammates in Tokyo in 2021 after bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro.

Since making her debut with the senior national team as a 16-year-old in 2000, she has earned 323 caps and scored 190 goals, the most by any soccer player — man or woman — at the international level.

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The Canadian women, ranked No. 10 in the world, have two international friendlies approaching this month against No. 9 Brazil, including Oct. 28 in Montreal and Oct. 31 in Halifax.

Head coach Bev Priestman said on Wednesday that Sinclair was good to go for the friendlies, but wouldn’t speculate on her future.

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“It’s obviously the question on everyone’s mind,” Priestman said. “What I can confirm and what you see is obviously Christine is available and selected for this (FIFA international) window.

“We’ve obviously had some confidential conversations about where Christine’s at and what the future looks like. But I don’t feel like that’s my place to communicate that.”

— With files from The Canadian Press

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Originally posted 2023-10-20 03:07:58.