With an annual salary of $27 million, Lionel Messi of Barcelona FC became the highest-paid football player in the world in 2014. Not bad, huh? That is the very top. The majority of soccer players don’t make that much money. Pro soccer players in the US make an average of $40,000 (! ) year. We believe it is unjust that goalkeepers make significantly less money than forwards because goalkeepers are cool.
But even so, the figures are accurate. Goalkeepers make an insignificant (in comparison) $85,000 per year, while forwards make an average of $220,000 annually. But there are a few things to remember. To begin with, those figures are only based on contracts. You can truly succeed with sponsorships if you’re attractive, personable, or just plain famous enough (think David Beckham).
(When Mr. Posh Spice was a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, his contracted pay didn’t even place him among the 20 highest-paid soccer players in the world. But his sales of diet drinks and perfumes brought in enough money to place him in the eighth spot on Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes.)
Second, American soccer players get pitiful salaries compared to players on foreign teams. Hello to Manchester City, Barcelona, Madrid, and pretty much every other European team ever. Setting your sights abroad might be a wise choice if money is your goal.
