Canada
- Cyle Larin – Goals: 24
- Dwayne de Rosario – Goals: 22
- Jonathan David – Goals:20
- John Catliff – Goals: 19
- Dale Mitchell – Goals: 19
Some of Canada’s best ever players are those that are currently active. As of the time of writing, Cyle Larin is Canada’s all-time leading scorer but Jonathan David could very well overtake him. Both played leading roles in guiding Canada to their first World Cup in 36 years. David currently has the best goals to games ratio in national team history at 0.66.
Alphonso Davies became the first Canada national football team player to win the Champions League as his Bayern Munich defeated PSG in the 2020 final. Davies is a versatile and attacking minded left back who has helped change the fortunes of the national team with his excellent play.
Atiba Hutchinson is Canada’s all-time caps leader and he’s spent nearly two decades on the national team. The midfielder has won a record six Canada Soccer Player of the Year awards.
Dwayne de Rosario won the MLS MVP award in 2011 and the midfielder scored 22 times for Canada in 81 FIFA World Cup appearances from 1998-2015.
Canada couldn’t have won the 2000 Gold Cup without goalkeeper Craig Forrest. Forrest made 55 appearances for Les Rogues and is widely regarded as their best ever keeper.
Center back Randy Samuel was key in Canada’s 1985 CONCACAF Championship win and was renowned for his physical style of play.
The only Canada World Cup appearance prior to 2022 came in 1986 and there was little to write home about. After a solid performance in the 1984 Olympics and a 1985 CONCACAF Championship win, there were high hopes for Les Rogues’ first World Cup appearance. However, the Canadians failed to score a single goal in three matches in Mexico.
The highlight of the tournament for Canada was holding France, who finished third, scoreless until the 79th minute of the opener. Jean-Pierre Papin scored the game’s only goal and Canada went on to lose their next two matches to Hungary and the Soviet Union. Both matches finished 2-0.
Team Information
Canada National Football Team History
Canada’s soccer team didn’t play their first international match until 1924, but Galt F.C. from Ontario won gold at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis. In their first official international on June 7, 1924, Canada fell 3-2 to Australia. Later on in that Australian tour, Canada got revenge and beat the Socceroos 4-1.
In 1927, the Canada national football team went on a tour in New Zealand and won 19 of the 22 matches they played. Also, in the early years, a rivalry with the USA developed, since they contested three matches in the span of a couple years.
Soccer in Canada took a hit as the federation withdrew from FIFA in 1928 and wouldn’t take part in FIFA World Cup qualifying until nearly 30 years later. In their 1958 World Cup Qualifying campaign, the Canada national football team defeated the USA twice, but it wasn’t enough to book a place in Sweden. Once again, the team took a hiatus because they didn’t enter the next two WCQ tournaments.
One of Their Best Periods
One of Canada’s best-ever periods was from 1981 to 1986, under coach Tony Waiters. Les Rogues fell to Brazil in the 1984 Olympics quarterfinals on penalties and won their first CONCACAF Championship in 1985. George Pakos scored crucial goals against Honduras on separate occasions to book a place in the 1986 World Cup.
At the World Cup, Canada lost all three of their games and didn’t find much success until the 21st century. Still, they were one win away from qualifying for the 1994 World Cup and held eventual Champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw in a friendly.
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A Trio of Player Awards
In 2000, Canada national football team won the CONCACAF Gold Cup with impressive wins over Mexico in the quarters and Colombia in the final. A trio of players won awards in the tournament. GK Craig Forrest won MVP, forward Carlo Corazzin earned the Golden Boot, and left-back Richard Hastings was awarded the Rookie of the Tournament award.
The following year, Canada held Brazil to a 0-0 draw in the Confederations Cup but failed to make it out of their group stage. The Canadians ended a 34-year winless streak against the USA in 2019 at the CONCACAF Nations League, which marked a turning point for them as a National Team.
With plenty of players plying their trade in Europe, like Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Stephen Eustaquio and Steven Vitoria, Canada entered 2022 World Cup Qualifying with hope. Davies, of Bayern Munich, established himself as one of the best left backs in the world and Larin was in great goal scoring form.
2021: Jumping 30 Places in FIFA Rankings
2021 was one of the best years in Canadian soccer history as they jumped over 30 places in the FIFA rankings, ended it on top of the WCQ standings and got their first won over Mexico for over 20 years.
In March 2022, Canada clinched their second-ever World Cup berth and finished in first place ahead of the USA and Mexico. Larin was also the top scorer in CONCACAF, qualifying with 13 goals.
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