Who are the highest-paid women’s soccer players at the 2023 World Cup?

The women’s game has taken leaps and bounds forward towards significant global growth. Both in sporting and structural terms, and in some cases economic terms, momentous changes have taken place in the battle to achieve worldwide equality in soccer.

In 2022, US Soccer announced an equal pay agreement that will see the members of the US women’s national team earn the same for playing for their country as the men’s team.

Women’s club pay lagging behind men’s soccer

This policy, which has been replicated by other federations across the globe, is an important step. However, more needs to be done at club level, where the planet’s best women’s soccer players are not paid anything close to what the highest-profile men get.

2023 has been a promising year for women’s soccer, though: while the expected leap has not been made in terms of club wages, there has been growth that indicates a desire across the board to achieve fair pay.

We present to you the top salaries earned by women’s soccer players participating in the 2023 World Cup, according to the most recent update provided by Forbes magazine.

The highest women’s club salaries in the world:

Alex Morgan - $7.1 million

A USWNT legend, San Diego Wave forward Morgan has secured an $800,000-a-year contract in America’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), making her the highest-paid player in the world. Other women soccer stars earn as much as she does on the field, but nobody comes close to her $6.3 million in endorsements.

Megan Rapinoe - $7 million

Rapinoe is also a long-time USWNT star. Her influence both on and off the pitch in the US has led her become one of women’s soccer’s biggest figures, and her recent contract renewal with NWSL club OL Reign saw her net a significant improvement on the $250,000 salary which, according to Forbes, she previously earned.

She is outspoken and a reference for many young soccer players. Rapinoe is a household name in America and brings in $6.3 million in off-field earnings.

Alexia Putellas - $4 million

The Spanish midfielder has an $800,000 contract with FC Barcelona and won the Ballon d’Or Féminin in 2021 and 2022. Her huge following on Instagram helps her earn endorsements of $3.2 million. The veteran player will lead the Spain national team at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Trinity Rodman - $2.3 million

The 21-year-old US forward is the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman. She was the NWSL Rookie of the Year in 2021 and has several endorsement deals that add up to $1.5 million in off-field earnings to add on to her $800,000 contract with the Washington Spirit.

Crystal Dunn - $2 million

The US defender and Portland Thorns midfielder is known for her versitality and is one of the most experienced players on the USWNT. Her $700,000 contract and $1.3 million in endorsements places her at a tie in fourth place with her US teammate below.

Julie Ertz - $2 million

Morgan and Rapinoe’s USWNT team-mate Ertz is next in a list that’s dominated by Americans. The 31-year-old veteran midfielder brings in $1.3 million in earnings off the pitch added to her impressive $700,000 contract with Angel City FC. She is married to Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz.

Other top-paid stars on the Forbes’ list: