American soccer legend Abby Wambach took to Instagram to congratulate Canada’s Christine Sinclair for breaking the all-time international goals record.
“Christine: History is made. Your victory is our victory. We celebrate with you,” Wambach wrote. “And to every girl coming up in the Pack with a dream to achieve that which doesn’t yet even exist: We believe in you. Your Pack is with you. And history awaits you.”
Sinclair broke Wambach’s record with two goals in the first half of an Olympic qualifier against St. Kitts and Nevis. The Burnaby, B.C., native now has 185 in her international career.
In the post to Sinclair, Wambach also wrote about what an honour it was to hold the record for more than six years — and the privilege that comes with being a role model to the next generation of players.
“For the six and a half years that I’ve held the world record for most goals scored – by man or woman – I’ve been grateful-to-the-bones for the path the Pack before me tread so that I could spend my life playing the game I love,” Wambach wrote. “I’ve tried to live and play in a way honoring that legacy and privilege, so that little girls coming up after us will accomplish things we’ve only dreamed of.
“So, as a girl who grew up dreaming of winning Olympic gold for my country before women’s soccer was even an Olympic sport, tonight I am celebrating. Tonight, I am celebrating the honor of passing that record, that legacy of our beautiful game, to the great Christine Sinclair: world-record holder for most international goals – man or woman – in history.”
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