Australia’s football scene has evolved dramatically over the past two decades. The country now produces talented players who earn competitive salaries across Europe, Asia, and the domestic A-League.
While Australian soccer players’ net worth figures don’t match European superstars, the Socceroos have built impressive careers.
From Premier League regulars to A-League icons, these athletes command respectable earnings through club contracts and national team duties.
Learn more about Australian players’ career stats and football net worth by exploring their individual profiles.
| Goalkeeper | Defender | Midfielder | Forward |
| Mathew Ryan | Aziz Behich | Aaron Mooy | Jamie Maclaren |
| Joe Gauci | Kye Rowles | Riley McGree | Martin Boyle |
| Paul Izzo | Milos Degenek | Ajdin Hrustic | Brandon Borrello |
| Tom Glover | Cameron Burgess | Connor Metcalfe | Mitchell Duke |
| Andrew Redmayne | Lewis Miller | Jackson Irvine | Adam Taggart |
| Alessandro Circati | Aiden O’Neill | Garang Kuol | |
| Jason Geria | Keanu Baccus | Marco Tilio | |
| Nathaniel Atkinson | Patrick Yazbek | Daniel Arzani | |
| Kai Trewin | Anthony Caceres | Mohamed Toure | |
| Jordan Bos | Ryan Teague | Alou Kuol | |
| Harry Souttar | Craig Goodwin | ||
| Mathew Leckie | |||
| Cameron Devlin |
10 Richest Football Players in Australia
The wealthiest Australian footballers represent a mix of current stars playing overseas and retired legends who maximized their European careers.
Sam Kerr leads all Australian footballers with $3.34 million in annual earnings from Chelsea, making her the country’s highest-paid soccer player.
Mat Ryan, Australia’s longtime national team goalkeeper, has built a net worth of approximately £13.35 million through consistent Serie A and Premier League contracts.
| Player Name | Annual Salary | Estimated Net Worth | Current Status |
| Sam Kerr | $3.34 million | $8-10 million | Chelsea (Active) |
| Mat Ryan | £1.66 million ($2.17M) | £13.35 million ($17.5M) | AS Roma (Active) |
| Tim Cahill | N/A | $28 million | Retired |
| Harry Kewell | N/A | $19.5 million | Retired |
| Mark Viduka | N/A | $15 million | Retired |
| Jamie Maclaren | £369,200 ($482K) | $3-4 million | Melbourne City (Active) |
| Aaron Mooy | £1.8 million ($2.35M) | $8-10 million | Active |
| Mathew Leckie | £254,800 ($333K) | $5-7 million | Melbourne City (Active) |
| Chris Ikonomidis | £280,800 ($367K) | $2-3 million | Melbourne Victory (Active) |
| Jackson Irvine | £1.2 million ($1.57M) | $6-8 million | Active |
Tim Cahill tops the retired players’ list with a reported $28 million net worth accumulated during his stellar career at Everton, New York Red Bulls, and various Asian clubs.
His savvy business investments and ambassador roles continue generating income post-retirement.
Harry Kewell earned $19.5 million through his time at Leeds United, Liverpool, and Galatasaray. He now works as a manager and pundit, adding to his wealth through football-related ventures.
Current players like Aaron Mooy have built solid net worth figures through consistent Premier League and Championship contracts.
Mat Ryan’s longevity as the first-choice goalkeeper at Brighton and Roma established him as one of Australia’s wealthiest active players.
Socceroos National Team Earnings Structure
The Australian national team operates under a tiered payment system introduced in recent years. Top-tier Socceroos players now receive up to $200,000 annually outside the World Cup cycle through Football Australia contracts.
This represents a significant increase from previous payment structures that relied primarily on match fees.
National Team Compensation Breakdown:
- Tier 1 Players: Up to $200,000 per year (established stars like Mat Ryan, Aaron Mooy)
- Tier 2 Players: $100,000-$150,000 annually (regular squad members)
- Tier 3 Players: $50,000-$80,000 per year (emerging talents and fringe players)
- Match Fees: Additional payments for each appearance and win bonus
- Tournament Bonuses: Substantial payments for World Cup and Asian Cup participation
World Cup campaigns bring significant financial rewards to Socceroos players. Qualification bonuses and tournament performance incentives can add $100,000-$300,000 to a player’s annual earnings during World Cup years.
The 2022 Qatar World Cup provided Australia’s squad with substantial bonus payments for reaching the Round of 16. These one-time bonuses often equal or exceed annual national team base salaries.
Football Australia’s investment in player payments reflects the commercial growth of the Socceroos brand.
Television deals and sponsorships now generate enough revenue to support competitive national team salaries that complement club earnings.
A-League Wages Compared to Overseas Contracts
The Australian A-League introduced a hard salary cap of $3 million per club for the 2025-26 season to ensure financial sustainability.
This dramatically limits what domestic clubs can pay compared to European leagues.
Portuguese veteran Nani earned the A-League’s highest salary at £1,196,000 ($1.56 million) annually during his Melbourne Victory stint. Jamie Maclaren tops Australian-born players in the domestic league at £369,200 ($482,000) per year with Melbourne City.
| League/Country | Average Top Player Salary | Example Player | Career Earnings Potential |
| A-League | £369,200 ($482K) | Jamie Maclaren | $5-8M over 10 years |
| English Premier League | £3-5 million | Mat Ryan (Brighton) | $30-50M over 10 years |
| English Championship | £1-2 million | Aaron Mooy | $15-25M over 10 years |
| Saudi Pro League | £2-4 million | Craig Goodwin | $10-20M over 5 years |
The wage gap forces Australia’s best talents to seek European opportunities early in their careers. A 22-year-old moving from the A-League to an English Championship club can triple his salary overnight.
Mat Ryan’s career path illustrates this perfectly – he earned modest wages at Central Coast Mariners before moving to Club Brugge, then Brighton, where his salary jumped to over £2 million annually.
His total career earnings from European football dwarf what he would have made staying in Australia.
The A-League’s financial constraints mean clubs rely heavily on marquee player slots and loan deals. Most Australian clubs now focus on developing young talent to sell overseas rather than retaining stars long-term.
Legendary Socceroos and Their Career Wealth
These pioneers opened doors for current Socceroos to earn higher salaries. Their success proved Australian players could compete at the highest levels, increasing market value for subsequent generations.
| Legendary Player | Playing Era | Est. Career Net Worth | Peak Annual Salary | Primary Clubs |
| Tim Cahill | 1997-2018 | $28 million | £3.5M | Everton, Millwall |
| Harry Kewell | 1995-2014 | $19.5 million | £2.8M | Leeds, Liverpool |
| Mark Viduka | 1993-2009 | $15 million | £2.5M | Leeds, Middlesbrough |
| Mark Schwarzer | 1990-2016 | $12 million | £1.8M | Middlesbrough, Fulham |
FAQs
1. Who is the richest Australian footballer?
Tim Cahill holds this title with a $28 million net worth accumulated through his Premier League career and business ventures. Among active players, Mat Ryan leads with approximately £13.35 million ($17.5 million) in net worth from his European club contracts.
2. What is the average A-League player salary?
The average A-League salary varies significantly, but most Australian players earn between £100,000-£400,000 annually. The league’s $3 million salary cap limits total spending, with star players like Jamie Maclaren earning around £369,200 ($482,000) per year.
3. How much do Socceroos players earn from national team duty?
Top-tier Socceroos receive up to $200,000 annually from Football Australia outside World Cup cycles. This includes base payments plus match fees, with additional substantial bonuses during major tournaments like the World Cup and Asian Cup.
4. Why do Australian players earn less than European players?
The A-League’s salary cap restricts domestic wages to ensure league sustainability. European leagues generate far more revenue through massive television deals and global sponsorships, allowing them to pay salaries 5-10 times higher than the A-League.
5. What was Sam Kerr’s salary at Chelsea?
Sam Kerr earns approximately $3.34 million annually at Chelsea, making her Australia’s highest-paid footballer across all codes, including AFL, rugby, and soccer. Her contract reflects women’s football’s rapid financial growth in recent years.
