Interest in women’s football has skyrocketed in recent years. More money has been poured into the game, with the best players becoming worldwide superstars.
Here are the highest-earning female footballers, according to Spanish outlet AS.
10) Trinity Rodman — €250,000
Alongside partnerships with Unilever and Adidas, Trinity Rodman signed the most lucrative contract in NWSL history.
Rodman’s deal with the Washington Spirit raised eyebrows at the time. There’s no question she’s worth the big bucks, though, and she looks set to be a start of the USWNT for years to come.
9) Christine Sinclair — €345,000
Despite retiring from international football, Canadian veteran Christine Sinclair remains one of the most well-known players in world football.
Still leading the Portland Thorns, Sinclair holds numerous records at club and international level.
8) Wendie Renard — €357,000
The leader of an all-conquering Lyon team, Wendie Renard is one of the best defenders of her generation.
Renard has rightly been rewarded with a massive salary, coming in eighth in the rankings.
7) Amandine Henry — €360,000
Since leaving Lyon in 2023, there’s a chance Amandine Henry’s salary has decreased. The last reported figure as shown above, however, which would slot Henry in at seventh.
Integral for Lyon and France and now playing for Toluca, Henry has been in the top three in UEFA Women’s Player of the Year voting on four occasions.
6) Marta — €386,000
The consensus greatest female footballer of all-time, Marta is nearing her 40th birthday but remains one of the world’s best players.
Holding countless records for Brazil, and a six-time winner of World Player of the Year, crowds from Vasco da Gama to Los Angeles, Stockholm and Orlando have been treated to Marta’s brilliance.
5) Ada Hegerberg — €398,000
Injuries disrupted the start of the 2020s for former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg. After signing a big-money contract with Lyon, Hegerberg regained her best form, scoring 21 times in 2023-24.
She has scored the most goals in Champions League history and has won nine Ligue 1 titles.
4) Keira Walsh — €457,000
A new entry on this list, Manchester City received a record transfer fee when they sold Keira Walsh to the Barcelona juggernaut.
Naturally slotting into the Catalan side, Walsh has gone from strength to strength since swapping the Manchester rain for the Spanish sun. She’s already won two league titles and two Champions Leagues.
3) Sam Kerr — €538,000
An ACL injury kept Sam Kerr out of the Paris Olympics and derailed her 2023-24 season. Chelsea still stumped up to extend Kerr’s contract by two years after the campaign, however, making her the highest-paid player in the WSL.
There’s been significant change at Chelsea with Emma Hayes moving on to pastures new, but Kerr remains a consistent, incomparable goal scorer.
2) Alexia Putellas — €700,000
Like Kerr, a major injury has disrupted the last couple of years for Alexia Putellas. A La Masia graduate, Putellas is synonymous with Barcelona. She has been integral in Barca’s ascent to becoming the best team in the world.
With a raft of individual accolades, Putellas’ reputation in Europe and beyond reflects the growth of the women’s game.
1) Aitana Bonmati — € 1 million
Aitana Bonmati is the highest-paid female footballer in the world. Bonmati has drawn comparisons with Andres Iniesta and won the Ballon d’Or in 2023 after Putellas’ injury.
A joy to watch, and relentlessly collecting trophies, Bonmati is only 26 years old. Her career earnings could break records.
