How to Make Money as a Soccer Player to Fund your Dreams
ByCoach Daniel Football Training

17 Best Ideas on How to Make Money as a Soccer Player

If you have any aspirations of reaching a higher level as a soccer player, then you will eventually realize that this can be an expensive dream, depending on where you’re from. From training gear and equipment to transportation, rent, and more, money plays an important role in your entire soccer career on and off the field.

Learning to make money as a soccer player is very important because you need money to finance your development, cover travel expenses, pay for quality coaching, and invest in the right equipment and accessories. If you are not spending money on your dream, then you do not love it enough to become it, simple as that.

Becoming a professional soccer player is one of the hardest things in the world, and to get one step closer to making this dream a reality, you have to give it 100% in everything you have physically, mentally, spiritually, and even financially. If you really want to get good at something and want to make your dreams come true, you have to make sacrifices, and this includes financial sacrifices.

Think about it, the more money you have, the less you have to worry about survival, and the more you can focus on becoming a better player and getting in better shape. To improve as a player, you need to focus on the seven key areas of player development, discipline, talent, game IQ, mindset, athleticism, fitness, and recovery, and having money can help improve these things.

As an amateur player myself, I have been able to create multiple sources of income through private training, larger organized soccer events, and running multiple blogs. Knowing how to earn money is a skill, and in this blog post, I will be sharing with you some of the best ideas to make money as a soccer player while staying surrounded by the game.

What are the best ways to make money and profit with soccer?

Money makes the world go around, and that is the same in soccer. Soccer is one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world and if you are an aspiring player looking to reach a higher level, you need to create financial freedom for yourself.

The truth is, most players only get until their teenage years to chase the dream of becoming a professional, especially in the United States. After these years, a lot of players who haven’t made it will get regular jobs to make money and take care of themselves and their families.

By creating financial freedom for yourself while playing, you will also be creating more time, and you will be able to live comfortably while chasing your dream, no matter your age, without worrying about money. The main reason why money is important is for survival and to afford the basic needs of shelter, food, water, and fire.

Secondly, having enough money as a soccer player makes sure that you have the funds to access high-quality coaching and training facilities. Depending on where you live, you might have to pay to get quality team training, attend trials, combines, or camps, but even if you don’t have to pay for training, you will still need money for:

If you’re a soccer player looking to make money while staying surrounded by the game these are the best options.

Soccer Coach for youth, high school, or amateur/ local clubs

Private Soccer Trainer

Create and Sell Online Soccer Training Courses or Programs

Sports Rehab Specialist

Sports league coordinator for leagues around your area

Referee for leagues around your area

Marketer for a Soccer Club

Graphics Designer for a Soccer club

Social Media Management for a Soccer club

Soccer Journalist

Soccer blogger

Affiliate Marketing with Soccer Brands

Create a Soccer Youtube channel

Create a Soccer Podcast

Sell Soccer Merchandise

Resell soccer gear

Do freelance work on Fiverr and Upwork

Final Thoughts

To summarize, many different careers and side hustles can help you make money while staying close to the game, and in this blog post, I gave you 17 ideas. Learning how to make money as a soccer player gives you the financial freedom to train, improve, and invest in your development without constantly worrying about basic expenses.

The earlier you build this skill, the more opportunities you’ll create on and off the field as you chase your dream and even after you’re done playing the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do professional soccer players make compared to amateur players?

Professional soccer players can earn anywhere from a base salary of $1,000, or even less than than per month, in lower leagues to millions of dollars annually for top MLS players like Lionel Messi. Amateur players typically don’t receive a salary and must work regular jobs or create income through coaching, private training, and other soccer-related services to afford their career expenses.

Can young players earn money through brand ambassadors and bonuses before signing a professional contract?

Yes, talented young players can earn money as brand ambassadors for local soccer clubs, training academies, or sports equipment companies before turning professional. Many young players also earn bonuses and cash prizes by winning tournaments and showcase events, plus college soccer players can now profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals.

What are the highest player salaries of MLS players?

Lionel Messi became the highest-paid MLS player when he joined Inter Miami, earning over $20 million annually in base salary and bonuses. Other top earners from teams like San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC, Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake, Portland Timbers, and Chicago Fire can make between $4-8 million per year, while bench players and younger team members earn the league minimum of around $65,000.

Daniel is an amateur footballer, blogger, sports coordinator, and coach/trainer with 15+ years playing experience across club, high school, college, adult recreational, and competitive leagues. Daniel also holds a grassroots soccer coaching license, a Kinesiology degree, and is certified in personal training and nutrition.