Women’s football has steadily developed in recent years whilst the incredible spectacle of the 2015 World Cup in Canada has helped to raise the profile of the sport to new heights.
Male players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi can still expect to earn far more than their female counterparts but the gulf is gradually declining.
The top-female footballers often command a basic salary of $60,000 whilst lucrative sponsorship deals with companies such as Adidas and Nike often push that figure up massively.
With all that being said, here’s a list of top highest-earning female football players.
Marta Vieira da Silva
Famously called Marta, is one of the most iconic female footballers and she has set an incredible record following her formidable goalscoring record and silky skills.
The Brazilian striker was reportedly being paid a whopping £200,000 a year by former club Tyreso FF.
Whilst the 29-year-old had to take a pay cut to join FC Rosengard, lucrative sponsorships means she blows the competition out of the water and still ranks as the top-paid female earner by racking up around $500,000 annually.
Alex Morgan
USA International Alex Morgan is another striking sensation and the 26-year-old takes home an estimated $450,000 yearly. The two-time Olympic gold medallist has netted an impressive 57 times in 100 appearances for her country.
Morgan currently plays for Orlando Pride and in 2015 she became the first female player to grace the cover of the popular FIFA video game series.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach, took a bow at the end of 2015 after an illustrious career.
The 35-year old prolific forward notched an incredible 184 goals in 255 appearances for the US national team and these incredible exploits saw her earn around $300,000 annually.
In 2015, after finishing third twice and being runners-up in 2011, Wambach finally helped her country to lift the Women’s World Cup.
Sydney Leroux
Sydney Leroux is a Canadian-born American international who plies her domestic trade for FC Kansas City.
The 25-year old is a constant goal-threat and her impressive displays see her earn just under $100,000.
Leroux is yet to make an appearance for her new club Kansas City and she will have to delay her debut after announcing in January 2016 that she is pregnant.
Nicole Banecki
Nicole Banecki is a German International who currently plays for SC Freiburg.
The 27-year-old made her debut for her country at the tender age of 21 and she has been an integral part of the squad ever since.
Banecki is a menace in front of goal and she reportedly takes home $90,000 a year.
Amandine Henry
Amandine Henry is a defensive midfielder who plays for French football club, Olympique Lyon.
The 26-year-old’s performances have been rapidly improving and in 2015 she finished runner-up in the UEFA Best Women’s Player in Europe Award. The French International is best remembered for a stunning solo effort in the 2015 World Cup against Mexico and she earns an estimated $70,000 annually.
Hope Solo
Hope Solo played a huge role in helping the US national team lift the World Cup in 2015 in Canada.
The veteran stopper is a two-time Olympic gold medalist who currently occupies the sticks for Seattle Reign.
The 34-year-old reportedly takes home $60,000 a year.
