Best Women Soccer Players From Canada: Canadian women’s soccer has a rich history that started in the early 1900s. The first women’s soccer match in Canada was in 1911, and the national team began in 1981. Since then, they’ve played in seven World Cups and three Olympic Games. They won gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics and the CONCACAF W Championship twice. Canada has talented players like Christine Sinclair, the top scorer in international women’s soccer.
Best Women Soccer Players From Canada
In this article, we’ll talk about the best women’s soccer players from Canada and the leading scorers on the Canadian women’s team.
1. Christine Sinclair
- Career Span: 2000–present
- Matches: 327
- Goals: 190
Christine Sinclair is one of the best women’s soccer players in Canada and a top scorer for the Canadian women’s team. She started playing for the national team in 2000 and quickly became their leading scorer. In 2001, she moved to the University of Portland and made a significant impact there, setting records and earning awards for her skills.
Sinclair continued to excel, playing in various leagues and tournaments, including the Olympics and World Cups. She reached milestones like her 100th international goal in 2010 and her 200th international appearance in 2013. Sinclair’s remarkable career also includes achievements in the National Women’s Soccer League and a gold medal at the Olympics, including a historic win in 2021.
In 2022, she won the NWSL championship with Portland and in 2023, despite her age, she was nominated for the World Cup, marking her presence in the tournament with over 300 international matches. Sinclair’s dedication and talent have made her an icon in Canadian women’s soccer, inspiring players around the world.
2. Charmaine Hooper
- Career Span: 1986–2006
- Matches: 129
- Goals: 71
Charmaine Hooper is one of the best women’s soccer players from Canada and the second-highest scorer for the Canadian women’s team. She played 129 international matches for Canada from 1986 to 2006, scoring 71 goals. These were records for Canada for a long time before being surpassed.
She made her debut against the USA in 1986 and participated in the Women’s World Cup in 1995, 1999, and 2003. In 2003, at 35 years and 261 days, she became the oldest goal scorer in the Women’s World Cup until 2015.
Hooper was honored as Canada’s Soccer Player of the Year in 1994, 1995, and 2002. She represented Canada in various leagues worldwide, including the WUSA, and studied at North Carolina State University. She was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012 and was part of the “All-Time Canada XI – women’s team” in 2012. Additionally, she served as an athlete ambassador for the development charity Right to Play.
3. Silvana Burtini
- Career Span: 1987–2003
- Matches: 77
- Goals: 38
Silvana Burtini is one of the best women’s soccer players from Canada and the third-highest scorer for the Canadian women’s team. She played as a forward and represented Canada in the 1995, 1999, and 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In 1998, Burtini was honored as Canadian Player of the Year and was part of the Canadian team that won the CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
She scored 38 goals in 77 games, making her the third-highest goal scorer in Team Canada Women’s Soccer history.
During her time at Capilano College, Burtini was recognized as the BCCAA Player of the Year and a CCAA All-Canadian in 1992–93. Apart from her soccer achievements, she was also a member of the Vancouver Police Department. In 2004, she received the British Columbia Police Award of Valour for saving a life, showcasing her bravery and dedication beyond the soccer field.
4. Janine Beckie
- Career Span: 2015–present
- Matches: 101
- Goals: 36
Janine Beckie is one of Canada’s top women’s soccer players and the fourth-highest scorer for the Canadian women’s team. She started her international career in 2011 and was initially part of the U.S. U-18 junior squad. However, in 2014, she joined the Canadian national team, making her debut against Sweden in a friendly match.
Beckie played in various international tournaments, including the 2015 BaoAn Cup and the 2016 Algarve Cup, where she contributed to Canada’s victories. She also represented Canada in the 2016 Olympics, scoring goals in both group and knockout stage matches. In the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, she helped Canada qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
During the 2021 Olympics, Beckie played a crucial role, scoring goals in the group stage against Chile and in the final against Sweden, where Canada won their first gold medal in women’s soccer.
In the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, Beckie played in several matches, helping Canada qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Despite reaching the final, Canada lost to the USA in the championship match. Beckie’s talent and contributions have been essential for Canada in various international competitions.
5. Kara Lang
- Career Span: 2002–2010
- Matches: 92
- Goals: 34
Kara Lang is one of Canada’s best women’s soccer players and the fifth-highest scorer for the Canadian women’s team. She made her senior international debut at just 15 years old during the Algarve Cup in 2002, becoming the youngest Canadian to play in a senior international match. Two days later, she scored her first goal, making her the youngest player in the world to score in a women’s senior international match.
Lang played in several international tournaments, including the U-19 Women’s World Cup in 2002 and the 2003 World Cup, where she scored important goals for Canada. She continued her impressive career, participating in the 2008 Summer Olympics and winning the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup.
After retiring, her teammates praised her as one of the most enthusiastic and genuine individuals. Lang scored a total of 34 international goals, making her one of Canada’s top scorers. Despite her early retirement, she remained a beloved figure in Canadian women’s soccer.
6. Adriana Leon
- Career Span: 2013–present
- Matches: 101
- Goals: 30
Adriana Leon is one of Canada’s top women’s soccer players and the sixth-highest scorer for the Canadian women’s team. She made her debut in the senior Canadian national team in 2013 against China, scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 victory. Leon was part of the squad for the 2015 World Cup and played in the group games and quarter-finals.
In the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, Leon helped Canada qualify for the 2019 World Cup by scoring six goals, including four goals in a match against Cuba. She was also a part of the team in the 2019 World Cup, playing as a substitute in three games.
During the 2021 Olympics, Leon made significant contributions, scoring in the group stage against Great Britain and assisting in the penalty shootout against Brazil in the quarter-finals. Canada went on to win the gold medal for the first time in women’s soccer history.
In the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, Leon scored a goal in the semi-final against Jamaica, helping Canada qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. She also played in the 2023 World Cup, scoring a goal in the group stage against Ireland, although Canada was eliminated after the preliminary round.
Leon’s talent and contributions have been vital for Canada in various international competitions, showcasing her skills on the world stage.
7. Melissa Tancredi
- Career Span: 2004–2017
- Matches: 125
- Goals: 27
Melissa Tancredi is one of Canada’s notable women’s soccer players and the seventh-highest scorer for the Canadian women’s team. She started her international career as a central back, participating in the 2004 Olympic qualifying tournament where Canada narrowly missed a spot at the Olympic Games.
In 2006, Tancredi was part of the Canadian team that finished second to the United States at the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup. Her remarkable achievement came in 2007 when she scored the second-fastest goal in World Cup history, just 37 seconds into a game against Australia during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in China.
Tancredi also contributed significantly to Canada’s success at various international events. She won a bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Games and played a crucial role in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, logging 199 minutes in three games. Her talents were further showcased at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, where she won bronze medals and scored a total of six goals across both tournaments, four in London and two in Rio de Janeiro. Tancredi’s skill and determination have made her a valuable asset to the Canadian women’s soccer team.
8. Andrea Neil
- Career Span: 1991–2007
- Matches: 132
- Goals: 24
Andrea Neil was a great soccer player from Canada. She started playing for the national team when she was 19 years old in 1991. In her first game, Canada won 9-0 against Jamaica. But Canada didn’t qualify for the World Cup that year. She had to wait for two years for her next game against the USA, where Canada lost 0-7. She scored her first international goal in 1994 against Jamaica. Canada qualified for the 1995 World Cup, but they were eliminated in the early rounds and missed the Olympics.
She played well in some tournaments but missed a few due to injuries or not being selected. In 2002, she scored three goals against Scotland, helping Canada win 3-0. Canada did their best in the World Cup, but their best result was fourth place. They missed the Olympics in Athens due to a loss against Mexico. Andrea Neil played her 100th international match in 2005 and became a respected player.
In 2007, she played in her fourth World Cup. Canada qualified for the tournament and played against teams like Ghana. This was her last international match. Andrea Neil played a total of 132 matches for Canada and scored 24 goals.
9. Sophie Schmidt
- Career Span: 2003–2023
- Matches: 224
- Goals: 20
Sophie Schmidt is a talented soccer player from Canada, known for her skills on the field. She started her international career in 2005, playing against the Netherlands. In her first World Cup match in 2007, she scored against Ghana. Schmidt also played in the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In 2011, Schmidt and her team won a gold medal at the Pan American Games. She continued to shine, scoring two goals in a match against Finland in 2014. Schmidt won a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics and another bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2021, she played her 200th match for Canada and won an Olympic gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
After the Tokyo Olympics, there were disagreements between the Canadian women’s team and the soccer association regarding compensation and funding. Frustrated, Schmidt considered retiring in 2023 but decided to continue playing until after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the tournament, she played a vital role in Canada’s victory over Ireland, assisting in Adriana Leon’s game-winning goal.
10. Diana Matheson
- Career Span: 2005–2021
- Matches: 211
- Goals: 19
Diana Matheson is a standout women’s soccer player from Canada and one of the top scorers for the Canadian women’s team. Despite her height of only 5 feet 1/4 inches (1.53 meters), she is known for her speed and skill, which allowed her to excel on the international stage. Matheson made her debut for the national team in March 2003 at the Algarve Cup. She played in the 2007 Women’s World Cup, appearing in all three of Canada’s group-stage matches, but they didn’t progress to the knockout round. In 2008, she was part of the Olympic Team, playing in all four matches until they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the United States.
Matheson participated in her second consecutive World Cup in 2011, where Canada didn’t advance past the group stage. At the 2011 Pan American Games, she played a crucial role, helping Canada win their first-ever gold medal in women’s soccer against Brazil in a penalty shootout. She was also part of the Canadian team in the 2012 Olympics, playing every minute of Canada’s six matches. In the bronze medal match against France, Matheson scored the winning goal, securing Canada’s first-ever medal in women’s soccer at the Olympic Games. In 2014, she suffered a torn ACL, raising doubts about her participation in the 2015 World Cup. She recovered in time to make one substitute appearance for Canada in the quarterfinal loss to England.
Matheson played in her third Olympics in 2016, winning a bronze medal for the second consecutive time. She reached a milestone by earning her 200th cap for Canada on October 14, 2018, with 181 of those caps being starts.
Unfortunately, she had to miss the 2019 World Cup due to a foot injury that required surgery. In July 2021, Matheson announced her retirement from soccer, ending her impressive international career.
