Playing the Long Game

A Memoir

By: Christine Sinclair, Stephen Brunt

Narrated by: Rachel Cairns

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

For the first time in depth and in public, Olympic soccer gold-medalist Christine Sinclair, the top international goal scorer of all time and one of Canada's greatest athletes, reflects on both her exhilarating successes and her heartbreaking failures. Playing the Long Game is a book of earned wisdom on the value of determination and team spirit, and on leadership that changed the landscape of women's sport.

Christine Sinclair is one of the world's most respected and admired athletes. Not only is she the player who has scored the most goals on the international soccer stage, male or female, but more than two decades into her career, she is the heart of any team she plays on, the captain of both Canada's national team and the top-ranked Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer League.
Working with the brilliant and bestselling sportswriter Stephen Brunt, who has followed her career for decades, the intensely private Sinclair will share her reflections on the significant moments and turning points in her life and career, the big wins and losses survived, not only on the pitch. Her extraordinary journey, combined with her candour, commitment and decency, will inspire and empower her fans and admirers, and girls and women everywhere.

Critic reviews

“[A] captivatingly honest read. . . . This is one of the most unassuming superstars you'll ever come across, and her story of going from a kid from Burnaby, B.C., to one of the greatest to ever do it is special because she has nothing but time for the people who helped and stood alongside her every step of the way.” —CBC

“Playing the Long Game is an essential read for fans of Canada women’s soccer seeking further insights from the perspective of its standard-bearer. It’s a look into the past and a peek behind the curtain of a private professional athlete, offering a unique approach to a memoir for someone who never thought she’d write one.” —The Oregonian

Loved the book

I have followed Christine since the Thorns began. I appreciate her willingness to write this book. I definitely recommend it

Excellent book, great narration.

I am a Michigander, and a USWNT fan. I appreciated the Canadian perspective on the growth of women's soccer over the past 20 years. I appreciated the narrator with the western Canadian pronunciations. Like so many others, I wish there were more details about her personal life. I applaud her for writing an interesting, readable book while fiercely guarding her privacy.

Pure Class

A world class athlete and legend with zero ego tells her story. It’s a great story.

Amazing!

I’ve followed Sinc since she was a freshman at UP. Incredible to get a “behind the scenes” look into her career. Thank you for sharing Sinc.