Chukwu breaks Canada’s youth international goalscoring record

Annabelle Chukwu broke Canada’s youth international goalscoring record when she scored her 28th career goal in just 34 matches from the U-15 to U-20 levels. In a big 9:0 win over Fiji at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2024, Chukwu tied former record holder Christine Sinclair with her 27th goal in the 24th minute, broke the record with her second goal of the night in the 34th minute, and completed a hat trick with her 29th career goal in the 41st minute.

On the same night, teammate Olivia Smith scored her 25th and 26th career goals in just her 28th youth international match. Smith ranks third all time behind Chukwu and Sinclair.

Sinclair, who left international football in 2023, scored 27 goals in 19 youth international matches from the U-19 to U-21 levels from 2001 to 2002. She set a still-standing tournament record when scored 10 goals at the inaugural FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship Canada 2002.

Chukwu was just 15 years old when she made her debut in the Canadian youth program in 2022. She scored twice in 2022, 17 times in 2023, and already 10 times in 2024. She has scored five goals at FIFA tournaments, 22 goals at Concacaf tournaments, and another two goals in friendly matches.

At the club level, Chukwu has played for Ottawa South United and Canada Soccer’s National Development Centre in Ontario. She has represented Canada at both the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India as well as the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.