University of Portland senior striker Christine Sinclair is one of 24 women’s soccer players on the shortlist for the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year. Sinclair, a 22-year-old native of Burnaby, British Columbia, has scored 53 international goals since joining the Canadian National Team in 2000 and is in the process of rewriting the NCAA record books at Portland.

Sinclair has 95 career goals for the Pilots and 218 career points, both good for second in Portland history. She has scored in 14 consecutive matches, one shy of the 15-year-old NCAA record, and is ninth in the NCAA books for total points and seventh all-time in goals.

Sinclair is the only Canadian on the women’s list, while the United States is far less represented than usual with limited international action, as just Shannon Boxx and Christie Welsh made the list.

"The players on this list are the best in the world and to even be considered is such a tremendous honor," said Sinclair. "I didn’t play a lot on the international stage this year, so it was even more of a surprise to be recognized. I think it really is a testament to how far Canada has come in women’s soccer, because if we don’t climb in the rankings or perform well collectively I wouldn’t be in this position."

The finalists have been selected by various FIFA experts, with members of the Committee for Women’s Football and FIFA Women’s Competitions, as well as other FIFA committees, deciding the female candidates. Likewise, the Technical and Development Committee selected the men.

Last year’s winners were Brazilian striker Ronaldinho, who beat out France’s Thierry Henry and Ukraine’s Andrei Shevchenko, and repeat winner Birgit Prinz of Germany, who edged now-retired Mia Hamm and Brazilian youngster Marta.

The Player of the Year Gala is slated for December 19 at the Zurich Opera House in Switzerland, as the best male and female soccer players of 2005 will be crowned before the world’s press. Coaches and captains of the male and female national teams will determine the 2005 winners. Towards the end of November and the beginning of December, FIFA will unveil a list of three main contenders in each category.

2005 FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Shortlist
Shannon Boxx (U.S.), Maribel Dominguez (Mexico), Laura Georges (France), Solveig Gulbrandsen (Norway), Ho Sun Hui (South Korea), Laura Kalmari (Finland), Satu Kunnas (Finland), Renate Lingor (Germany), Hanna Ljungberg (Sweden), Hanna Marklund (Sweden), Marta (Brazil), Sandra Minnert (Germany), Portia Modise (South Africa), Malin Mostrom (Sweden), Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria), Nordby Bente (Norway), Cathrine Paaske Sorensen (Denmark), Park Eun Sun (South Korea), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Homare Sawa (Japan), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Ane Stangeland (Norway), Christie Welsh (U.S.).

2005 FIFA Men’s Player of the Year Shortlist
Adriano (Inter Milan, Brazil), Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich, Germany), David Beckham (Real Madrid, England), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Cafu (AC Milan, Brazil), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Deco (FC Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto’o (FC Barcelona, Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus, Sweden), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan, Italy), Pavel Nedved (Juventus, Czech Republic), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan, Italy), Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton, Nigeria), Raul Gonzalez (Real Madrid, Spain), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Arjen Robben (Chelsea, Netherlands), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid, Brazil), Robinho (Real Madrid, Brazil), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England), Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan, Ukraine), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United, Netherlands), Zidane Zinedine (Real Madrid, France).