Here Are The Highest-Paid Female Soccer Players

The 2023 Women’s World Cup, hosted by New Zealand and Australia, was an extraordinary success, demonstrating the rapid growth in popularity of women’s soccer. The tournament not only broke even for the first time but also generated $570 million in revenue. The final was watched by a record-breaking three billion people.

The figures representing the success of female soccer players are not just data. They attract the attention of major brands and companies, who sponsor these teams and their athletes. Gradually, these players are breaking through the financial barriers that have previously restricted their potential. The surge in demand for their sport is mirrored in their earnings, as they secure large salaries through multi-million dollar deals.

1. Alex Morgan – $7.1 Million
   It takes little introduction to introduce Alex Morgan, one of the greatest female soccer players of all time, to both soccer enthusiasts and general public. Prominent brands like Hublot, BODYARMOR, and Anheuser-Busch are listed in Morgan’s large collaboration dossier, indicating that success and fame come with big compensation. She was listed as one of the 2019 and 2022 Time 100 Most Influential People. Every squad color Morgan wears needs her presence on the field, and in 2015 and 2019, Morgan was a major contributor to the USNWT’s FIFA Women’s World Cup victories. She was also a member of the Lyon Feminin squad, who captured the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the League, and the historic Coupe de France Feminin in 2017. Alex Morgan tops this list with her record-breaking salary and endorsement income of $7.1 million in women’s soccer.
2. Megan Rapinoe – $7 Million
   Megan Rapinoe is a well-known figure in the game because of her activism, fiery temperament, and commitment to it. She has established a strong reputation both on and off the field. She began her playing career with Elk Grove Pride and then joined the Chicago Red Stars as a professional. Megan Rapinoe is a standout performer. She won the FIFA Women’s World Cup twice with the US women’s national soccer team (USWNT), earned an Olympic gold medal, was named FIFA Women’s Player of the Year 2019, and won the Ballon d’Or Feminin 2019. She is unique not only because of her accomplishments but also because she has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and equal pay for women. Rapinoe makes just less than $1 million at OL Reign in addition to $6.3 million from her sponsorships, earning her an annual sum of $7 million.
3. Alexia Putellas – $4 Million
   Dubbed “La Reina” by supporters and the media, Alexia Putellas is one of the most important soccer players in the world. The Spanish midfielder is praised for her outstanding leadership abilities, which have earned her the captaincy for both club and country. Aside from the field, Putellas deserves equal recognition for her work as a champion of gender parity in athletics, leveraging her influence to create consciousness and encourage constructive transformation in the sector; also, a docuseries on Amazon Prime Video focused on Alexia. Given her exceptional skill both on and off the field, it is understandable why she is paid $4 million annually.
4. Trinity Rodman – $2.3 Million
   At barely 21 years old, Trinity Rodman is the youngest player on the list with a total annual income of $2.3 million. She started playing soccer when she was four years old, and when the Washington Spirit selected her in the 2021 NWSL College Draft, she became the youngest player to be drafted in NWSL history at the age of 18. She won US Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year and NWSL Rookie of the Year after an outstanding rookie campaign. Being the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, Rodman also possesses star power off the field. She has inherited her father’s charisma and athleticism, which increases her marketability and will eventually cause her to top the charts as the highest-paid female soccer player.
5. Crystal Dunn – $2 Million
   Another adaptable athlete that can play both midfield and defense is Crystal Dunn. She made her collegiate soccer debut with the North Carolina Tar Heels, where she was awarded the Herman Trophy as the top player in the conference. At the age of 23, she became the youngest person to win the NWSL MVP and Golden Boot awards in 2015 after pitching her maiden professional tent with the Washington Spirits. Dunn earns $2 million from her sponsorship partnerships and pay as a player for the Portland Thorns.
6. Sophia Smith – $2 Million
   The youthful and dynamic Sophia Smith, one of the biggest names in women’s soccer, has already received praise for her marketability off the field. She was the 2019 College Cup tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player, representing Stanford Cardinal in college. She was chosen by Portland Thorns FC as the first pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, and after winning the 2022 NWSL championship, she was voted the MVP of the league. Smith, who makes $800,000 a year at Portland Thorns and has endorsement agreements with Nike, Ally Financial, and Hyperice, is the second-youngest high earner on the list.
7. Lindsey Horan – $1.5 Million
   Lindsey Horan is renowned for her exceptional technical skills and adaptability. After being named by ESPN as the best prospect in college, she signed a record-breaking six-figure contract to play for Paris Saint-Germain Feminin. Horan, a prolific striker, scored a number of goals for the French team before joining the Portland Thorns in the NWSL, where she was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) and won the 2017 championship. After that, Horan returned to France to play for Lyon Feminin, where he won the UEFA Champions League, the top competition for European clubs. During the 2018 Women’s World Cup, Horan captained Team USA and scored in the opening match against Vietnam against the Netherlands. After Lindsey Horan moved to Lyon for $265,000, she became the most expensive player on the USWNT. She makes $900,000 a year at Lyon, and she makes an additional $1.5 million from her off-field business dealings with companies like Microsoft’s Xbox and Cheribundi.
8. Rose Lavelle – $1.4 Million
   Rose Lavelle, a midfield midfielder, was essential to the US national women’s team’s victory in the 2019 Women’s World Cup in Canada. She scored three goals, one of which came against the Netherlands in the championship match, and was named the third-best player of the competition, earning her the Bronze Ball. Lavelle has also had success in club football, having won the Women’s FA Cup with Manchester City and the Shield Cup with Reign FC in the NWSL. She has also been on the cover of Sports Illustrated in June 2023 and appeared in several Visa television ads. With her endorsement contracts with Nike, Icy Hot, and Chipotle, Rose Lavelle’s annual income of $755,000 brings her total earnings to $1.4 million.
9. Sofia Huerta – $1.3 Million
   Sofia Huerta, an American soccer player of Mexican descent who currently plays for both the US women’s national team and Reign FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, started her career as a Bronco at Santa Clara University. It was there that scouts from professional teams in the nation took notice of her remarkable skills. Huerta, who is renowned for her inventiveness and aggressive play, rose quickly through the ranks and was selected by the Chicago Red Stars, where she made her professional debut in 2015. Before choosing to play for the US national women’s team, she represented Mexico at the junior and senior levels. In 2017, she received her first cap. Sofia Huerta has an alliance with Siete Foods and is associated with Lotto Sports, an Italian maker of sporting goods.
10. Ada Hegerberg – $1.2 Million
    Ada Hegerberg, a striker from Norway, is a lethal finisher with an excellent eye for goal. She has established herself as the most prolific goalscorer in women’s soccer. She joined the professional team Kolbotn after playing youth soccer with Sunndal in Norway, where she set a league record as the top scorer in 2011 at the age of 16. She moved to Lyon, France, and since then, she has won numerous titles and personal honors, including the first-ever Ballon d’Or Feminin. Hegerberg makes $430,000 a year at Lyon, but off the field, she’s even richer—her collaborations with companies like Hublot, MasterCard, and Nike have increased her earnings to $1.2 million.

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