How to Make Money as a Soccer Player to Fund your Dreams
ByCoach Daniel How to Get Better at Soccer

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

If you aspire to reach a higher level as a soccer player, you will eventually realize it can be an expensive dream, depending on factors like where you’re from and your age. 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 matters because you need it 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 make your dreams come true, you have to make sacrifices, including financial ones.

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’ve created multiple sources of income related to soccer, and knowing how to earn money is a skill anyone can learn. In this blog post, I’ll share some of the best ideas for making money as a soccer player while staying surrounded by the game.

If you’re interested in taking your training to the next level with a structured program, you can reach out to me or learn more here.

How to Make Money as a Soccer Player

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 that, many players who haven’t made it take regular jobs to make money and take care of themselves and/or 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 money matters is survival and affording basic needs like shelter, food, water, and fire.

Second, having enough money as a soccer player ensures you can 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

Graphic 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, 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 at teams like San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC, Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake, Portland Timbers, and Chicago Fire can make between $4 and $8 million per year, while bench players and younger team members earn the league minimum of around $65,000.

What gear and equipment are needed to improve my soccer skills?

The best thing about soccer is that you don’t need much equipment or accessories to start playing and improving. All you really need is a soccer ball, but the more serious you want to play, the more gear you will need, such as soccer cleats, shin guards, grip socks, shorts, and shirts, and soccer equipment, such as cones, rebounders, ball pumps, soccer bags, etc.

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.