Here are the highest paid women’s footballers in the world – and how they compare to the highest paid men

Women’s football may be taking enormous strides in terms of popularity and finances – but even the highest paid female footballers are far behind their male counterparts when it comes to wages.

The top five highest paid women footballers has been revealed by France Football magazine – and the list reveals how large the pay gap still remains.

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The highest-paid player in the women's game is currently USWNT star Carli Lloyd, who takes home over $518,000 a year from playing in the National Women's Soccer League for NJ/NY Gotham FC - who were known as Sky Blue FC until last year.

According to Forbes, however, football's highest-paid man - Barcelona's Lionel Messi - earns over 2000% more than Lloyd does.

Despite the development of British football and the rise of the Women's Super League in recent years, there are no British players on the list. Australian Sam Kerr of Chelsea, however, comes in at second.

Alex Morgan, who went on loan to Tottenham Hotspur last season, is third on the list with her fellow World Cup winners, Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz making up the top five.

Here are the top five highest paid women’s footballers, and their annual income:

5. Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars)

$430,000/£315,000

4. Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign)

$447,000/£328,000

3. Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride)

$450,000/£330,000

2. Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

$500,000/£366,000

1. Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

$518,000/£379,000

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