How Much Money Do Professional Soccer Players Make?

Steve Martin is famous for the quote: “I love money. I love everything about it.”

Most people want to earn a fair wage for their skills and services, and footballers are no different. Aside from the endorsement deals and bonuses, the exact earnings of a footballer are determined by a number of variables. In this piece, we will discuss these variables, so read on to get all the details.

How much money do professional soccer players make?

With the sporadic growth of football leagues across the globe, professional soccer players are global brands worth millions. While the average player might earn a modest living, professional soccer players rake in millions in salaries, endorsements, and performance bonuses. 

To get an idea of how much professional soccer players are paid, you can isolate the difference between current annual salary and average guaranteed compensation.  The base salary for professional soccer players is what they earn before bonuses, and it varies per league, club, and player profile. 

Here’s the weekly average base salary per league: 

• English Premier League – $75,000 

• La Liga – $60,000

• Saudi Pro League – $65,000

• Major League Soccer – $12,000

Guaranteed compensation includes base salary, signing bonuses, performance bonuses, and other contractual incentives. This is a clearer picture of a player’s total earnings from their club. Let’s see what the annualized average guaranteed compensation or total compensation of professional players is. 

Factors that influence soccer players' salaries

Several factors determine how much a soccer player earns. This explains the vast disparity between star players and journeymen. These factors include: 

Skill and performance

A player’s on-field performance is the primary determinant of their salary. Exceptional goal scorers, playmakers, or defensively dominant players earn premium wages because of their skills. 

While it’s easy to assume that they are simply gifted, G. K. Nelson opines that "Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then succeed on purpose." 

Hence, a player like Erling Haaland, who has scored 101 goals in 108 matches for Manchester City, deserves to earn more than his peers because of his impact on the club’s matches.

Reputation and popularity

In football, star power translates into higher ticket sales, merchandise, and media rights that all trickle down to more revenue. Professional athletes like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with hundreds of millions of fans across the world and social media followers, generate massive commercial value and global appeal. This justifies their salaries. 

Market and demand

High-revenue leagues like the English Premier League and the Spanish La Liga enjoy lucrative TV deals, which means they can afford to pay their players better than smaller markets. The Saudi Pro League’s recent evolution is a clear indication of the impact of market and demand. Their decision to attract global talents with huge salaries will pay off in the long run.

Contract and negotiations

A player’s negotiating power depends on being a free agent and their contract expiration. Free agents are able to attract clubs that are willing to pay more and earn higher salaries and signing bonuses. 

Club financial resources

Big clubs like Manchester City and PSG can afford to pay higher salaries due to their robust revenues from sponsorships, media rights, and ownership investments. Smaller clubs, on the other hand, are constrained by tight budgets.

Does a player's position affect his salary? 

Yes, Slotsjudge gathered that a player’s position on the pitch significantly impacts their earning potential. Forwards earn the highest salaries due to their direct impact on match outcomes. Next in line are the attacking midfielders who set up goals with assists.

Elite center-backs or full-backs, such as Virgil van Dijk, also earn substantial salaries, but they generally lag behind forwards. Defensive midfielders often earn less than their attacking counterparts. While top goalkeepers like Alisson Becker earn competitive salaries, the position is rarely among the highest-paid. In some lower-tier clubs, goalkeepers earn the least.

Income from participation in the gambling industry

While regular players boost their skills and earning potential in demo slots, many soccer players boost their income through endorsements and partnerships. Top players like Neymar, who promotes Blaze Casino, and Cristiano Ronaldo, linked to LiveScore, earn millions annually from such sponsorship deals. 

Sites like StoneVegas Casino, according to experts on the Slotsjudge platform, are becoming more and more prominent amid growing interest in regulation, transparency and quality content. StoneVegas stands out not only for its wide selection of licensed games, but also for its commitment to upholding responsible gaming standards, which is especially important amid public interest in gambling.

Radar reported that Neymar made millions from his partnership deal with Blaze Casino. These partnerships include social media promotions, appearances in advertisements, or ambassador roles.

The difference between stars and average players

The financial gap between soccer’s superstars and average players is staggering. Yet, it is a reflection of the differences in talent, skill level, and marketability.

Top players like Ronaldo, Messi, and Mbappé earn astronomical sums from their salaries, bonuses, and endorsements. Their massive social media followings and commercial appeal further drive multimillion-dollar sponsorships, boost TV ratings, and generate high merchandise sales. 

Players like Neymar and Vinicius Jr. combine their on-field excellence with off-field marketability to secure huge ambassadorial deals.

Average players, on the other hand, rely primarily on club salaries and modest bonuses. Because their contribution to the team lacks the star power to drive significant revenue, their earning potential is limited. 

Conclusion

Skill, star power, and market demand drive the gap between soccer stars and average pros. In soccer, talent and marketability are key to earning big.