The Highest Paid Female Soccer Players, Ranked

Highlights

• The success of the 2023 Women's World Cup demonstrates the rising popularity of women's soccer and the potential for significant revenue generation and corporate investment.
• Female athletes in women's soccer are breaking glass ceilings and securing lucrative deals and salaries, with players like Ada Hegerberg and Sofia Huerta earning millions through partnerships and endorsements.
• The top earners in women's soccer, such as Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan, are commanding substantial salaries and endorsement deals, solidifying their status as influential figures in the sport.

Women's soccer is on the rise in a big way, as evidenced by the unprecedented success of the 2023 Women's World Cup (hosted by New Zealand and Australia.) The tournament raked in $570 million in revenue, breaking even for the first time, and over three billion eyes tuned in for the final, which set a new record.

These numbers are not just statistics; they serve as a siren, beckoning corporations and top brands to invest in these teams and their players. As the rise in demand is reflected in the earnings of female athletes, the players are gradually shattering glass ceilings in women's soccer that have historically limited their financial potential, and securing big bags through multi-million dollar deals and huge salary payouts.

10 Ada Hegerberg - $1.2 Million

A devastating finisher with a keen eye for goal, Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg has cemented her status as the most prolific goalscorer in women's soccer. She played youth soccer with Sunndal in Norway, joining professional side Kolbotn, where she finished as the league's top scorer aged 16 in 2011, a record that still stands.

She joined Lyon in France, where she has won several championships and individual accolades, including the inaugural Ballon d'Or Feminin. At Lyon, Hegerberg receives an annual income of $430,000; the grass is just as green off as it is on the pitch, as her partnerships with brands like Hublot, MasterCard, and Nike elevated her earnings to $1.2 million.

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9 Sofia Huerta - $1.3 Million

Mexican-born American player Sofia Huerta, who plays for Reign FC in the National Women's Soccer League and the US women's national team, began her journey at Santa Clara University playing for the Broncos, where her impressive skills caught the attention of scouts from professional teams in the country.

Famed for her offensive play and creativity, Huerta progressed rapidly through the ranks before getting drafted to play for the Chicago Red Stars, making her professional debut in 2015. She previously represented Mexico at junior and senior levels before switching to play for the US national women's team, earning her first cap in 2017.

Sofia Huerta is in partnership with Italian sports equipment manufacturer Lotto Sports; she is also in bed with Siete Foods.

8 Rose Lavelle - $1.4 Million

Midfield player Rose Lavelle was pivotal to the success of the US national women's team in the 2019 Women's World Cup in Canada, where she ran riot; she was awarded the Bronze Ball as the third-best player of the tournament after scoring three goals, one of which was against Netherland in the final game.

Lavelle has also seen success in club football, winning the Women's FA Cup with Manchester City and the Shield Cup with Reign FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL); she is a familiar face in the media as well, having featured in various television commercials for Visa, and appearing on the June 2023 cover of Sports Illustrated. Rose Lavelle's $755,000 per year in salary, along with her endorsement deals with Nike, Icy Hot, and Chipotle, puts her gross earnings at $1.4 million.

7 Lindsey Horan - $1.5 Million

Lindsey Horan is known for her remarkable technical abilities and her versatility. She was dubbed the hottest prospect in her college days by ESPN, and went on to sign a record six-figure deal to play for Paris Saint-Germain Feminin.

A prolific scorer, Horan registered several goals for the French side before returning to NWSL to play for the Portland Thorns, with whom she won the championship in 2017 and league's MVP (Most Valuable Player). Horan then went back to France to play for Lyon Feminin, winning the European club's premier tournament the UEFA Champions League.

Horan captained Team USA in the 2018 Women's World Cup, scoring in the opening game against Vietnam and Netherlands. Lindsey Horan is the most expensive USWNT player, following her $265,000 switch to Lyon.

She earns $900,000 annually at Lyon, and her off-field business deals with brands like Microsoft's Xbox and Cheribundi kick her earnings up to $1.5 million.

6 Sophia Smith - $2 Million

One of the brightest stars in women's soccer, the young and exciting Sophia Smith, has already been hailed for her marketability off the pitch. She played in college for Stanford Cardinal, and was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player at the 2019 College Cup tournament.

She was the number one pick at the 2020 NWSL College Draft and was selected by Portland Thorns FC, where she won the 2022 NWSL championship – and was named the league's MVP. Smith is the second-youngest top earner on the list; she bags $800,000 annually at Portland Thorns, and has signed endorsement deals with Nike, Ally Financial, and Hyperice.

5 Crystal Dunn - $2 Million

Crystal Dunn is another versatile player who can operate as a midfielder and defender; she burst onto the scene with the North Carolina Tar Heels, where she played collegiate soccer, winning the Herman Trophy for best college soccer player. She pitched her first professional tent with Washington Spirits, and in 2015, she was awarded NWSL MVP and Golden Boot at age 23, the youngest to do it.

Dunn plies her trade with the Portland Thorns, and walks home with $2 million from salary and partnership deals.

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4 Trinity Rodman - $2.3 Million

Trinity Rodman is the youngest player on the list; at just 21 years old, she has already secured $2.3 million in total annual earnings. She began playing soccer when she was four years old, and at age 18, she became the youngest player to be drafted in NWSL history when the Washington Spirit selected her at the 2021 NWSL College Draft.

After an impressive debut season, she was named NWSL Rookie of the Year, and US Soccer Young Female Player of the Year. Rodman also brings star power off the pitch, as she is the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman; she inherited her father's athleticism and charisma that adds to her marketability and will, at some point in her career, top the chart as the highest-paid female soccer player.

3 Alexia Putellas - $4 Million

Alexia Putellas is one of the most influential soccer players in the world, dubbed "La Reina" by fans and media; the Spanish midfielder is lauded for her exceptional leadership qualities, which have earned her captaincy for both club and country.

Off the pitch, Putellas is equally commendable for her services as an advocate for gender equality in sports, using her platform to raise awareness and promote positive change within the industry; Alexia was also the subject of an Amazon Prime Video docuseries. With such talent on and off the pitch, it is no wonder that she commands a salary of $4 million.

2 Megan Rapinoe - $7 Million

An icon known for her fiery personality, activism, and dedication to the game, Megan Rapinoe has made quite the name for herself, off and on the pitch. She started her career playing for Elk Grove Pride before going professional with Chicago Red Stars.

A two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winner with the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT), an Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women's Player of the Year 2019, and Ballon d'Or Feminin 2019, Megan Rapinoe is a top performer. It is not just her success that sets her apart; she has been an outspoken advocate for equal pay for women and LGBTQ+ rights.

Rapinoe earns just under $1 million at OL Reign and brings in $6.3 million through her endorsements, scoring her an annual sum of $7 million.

1 Alex Morgan - $7.1 Million

One of the most successful female soccer players of all time, Alex Morgan, needs little introduction both to fans of the game and general audiences alike. With fame and success comes substantial payouts, as top brands such as Hublot, BODYARMOR, and Anheuser-Busch appear on Morgan's extensive partnership dossier.

She was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2019 and 2022. On the field, her presence is vital for every squad color she dons; Morgan played a crucial role in helping the USNWT win the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 and 2019.

She was also part of the Lyon Feminin team, which won the historic treble in 2017 (League, Coupe de France Feminin, and UEFA Women's Champions League). Alex Morgan earns $7.1 million in endorsements and salary, a record in Women's soccer, landing her at the top of this list.

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