As with most professional sports, the salary gap between men and women in soccer is large. However, at least some of the most popular and famous female footballers are beginning to close the gap.
The list below contains ten of the world's highest paid female soccer stars — they have not been placed in order because of conflicting information about current salaries, which for the most part, are not public. Keep an eye out for them as the 2015 Women's World Cup moves on.
Marta Vieira da Silva – The Brazilian born soccer star (pictured above) who often goes by the single name Marta plays for the Brazilian National Team, but plays professionally in Sweden. She commanded the whopping salary of nearly $400,000 from her previous team, Tyresö FF, although the salary was reportedly paid by sponsors. Tyresö FF disbanded for financial reasons, but Viera stayed in Sweden by signing with FC Rosengård.
Alex Morgan – One of the stars of the US Women's World Cup Team, Morgan plays professionally for the Portland Thorns in the US National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Sportsgoogly.com reports that Morgan's salary was increased to $450,000; if true, that must be through subsidies or sponsors as the NWSL is salary-capped at $200,000 per team. Whatever her salary is, she's making more in endorsements, with estimates ranging above $1 million.
Abby Wambach – The world-record holder for international goals (men or women) recently announced that 2015 is her last run on the US World Cup team. She last played professionally for the Western New York Flash in the 2014 NWSL season and is taking the 2015 season off to prepare for the World Cup. Reports of her salary range from $190,000 to $300,000 — again, most likely through sponsorships.
Sydney Leroux – Born in Surrey, British Columbia, Leroux now plays for the US World Cup team and plays professionally for the Western New York Flash. Estimates of her salary range from $60,000 to $92,500.
Nicole Banecki – Of mixed Cameroonian and German descent, Banecki plays for the German World Cup team as well as SC Freiburg in the German football league (Bundesliga). Her salary is listed at $90,000.
Amandine Henry – Henry plays defensive midfield for the French club Olympique Lyon, and is an important member of the French World Cup team, having scored an amazingly long goal against Mexico in the 2015 World Cup. Henry's estimated salary range is from $60,000-$70,000.
Nilla Fischer – Known for her distinctive haircut, Fischer plays for both VfL Wolfsburg in the German league and the Swedish national team. Fischer's salary is approximately $65,000.
Hope Solo – The controversial yet talented US World Cup goalkeeper and wife of former Seattle Seahawks (NFL) tight end Jerramy Stevens plays professionally for the Seattle Reign of the NWSL. Estimates of Solo's salary vary greatly, from $22,000 to $65,000.
Jonelle Filigno – Filigno gets the exciting chance to play for the 2015 World Cup in her native Canada as part of the Canadian World Cup team. She also plays professionally for Sky Blue FC in the NWSL (on the campus of Rutgers University in New Jersey). Filigno's salary is approximately $60,000.
Laure Boulleau – Boulleau plays for Paris St.-Germain in the French league as well as playing for the French World Cup team. Boulleau's salary is estimated at $60,000.
Enjoy these female footballers while they enjoy the higher visibility of the World Cup, and in the future when most, if not all, will be part of their national teams at the Olympics. Meanwhile, make the effort to find broadcasts of their professional teams when you can. They are hard to find, but worthwhile.
