Christian Pulisic leads American soccer wealth with $56.86 million market value at AC Milan. His €6 million annual salary establishes him as the USMNT’s highest European earner while building substantial net worth through Serie A success.
Weston McKennie commands €4.5 million yearly at Juventus while Antonee Robinson earns £3.8 million at Fulham. American players increasingly thrive in Europe’s top leagues, earning salaries 10-20 times higher than MLS possibilities.
Discover how American soccer stars build their fortunes and compare with global football players net worth across major leagues.
| Goalkeeper | Defender | Midfielder | Forward |
| Matt Turner | Chris Richards | Weston McKennie | Christian Pulisic |
| Zack Steffen | Antonee Robinson | Tyler Adams | Ricardo Pepi |
| Patrick Schulte | Joe Scally | Yunus Musah | Timothy Weah |
| Ethan Horvath | Cameron Carter-Vickers | Gio Reyna | Josh Sargent |
| Gabriel Slonina | Tim Ream | Johnny Cardoso | Haji Wright |
| Roman Celentano | Mark McKenzie | Jack McGlynn | Folarin Balogun |
| Matt Freese | Auston Trusty | Brian Gutiérrez | Jordan Pefok |
| Chris Brady | Marlon Fossey | Max Arfsten | Jesús Ferreira |
| Miles Robinson | Tanner Tessmann | Daryl Dike | |
| Shaq Moore | Diego Luna | Brandon Vazquez | |
| Sergiño Dest | Luca de la Torre | Mallory Pugh | |
| DeJuan Jones | Leroy Sané | Jesús Ferreira | |
| Joseph Scally | Alex Zendejas | ||
| Kevin Paredes |
10 Richest Football Players in United States
American footballers maximize wealth through Premier League and Serie A contracts. MLS offers competitive domestic salaries but European opportunities multiply earning potential dramatically.
| Player Name | Annual Salary | Estimated Net Worth | Current Club |
| Christian Pulisic | €6 million | $25 million | AC Milan |
| Weston McKennie | €4.5 million | $18 million | Juventus |
| Antonee Robinson | £3.8 million | $15 million | Fulham |
| Yunus Musah | €3.5 million | $12 million | AC Milan |
| Tyler Adams | £3.2 million | $10 million | Bournemouth |
| Sergiño Dest | €2.8 million | $8 million | PSV |
| Ricardo Pepi | €2.5 million | $6 million | PSV |
| Malik Tillman | €2.8 million | $7 million | PSV |
| Folarin Balogun | €4 million | $8 million | AS Monaco |
| Gio Reyna | €3 million | $7 million | Borussia Dortmund |
Pulisic’s $25 million net worth accumulated through Chelsea and AC Milan contracts represents America’s peak soccer earning power.
USMNT National Team Player Salaries
U.S. Soccer Federation compensates players through match fees and tournament bonuses. World Cup and Gold Cup campaigns provide significant supplemental income beyond club wages.
National Team Compensation:
- World Cup matches: $10,000-$15,000 per appearance
- Gold Cup games: $8,000-$12,000 per match
- CONCACAF qualifiers: $6,000-$10,000 per game
- Friendly fixtures: $3,000-$5,000 per appearance
- Tournament bonuses: Six-figure distributions for deep competition runs
USMNT’s 2022 World Cup Round of 16 appearance distributed approximately $1.5-2 million across the squad in combined bonuses and appearance fees.
MLS Salaries vs European Earnings
Major League Soccer cannot compete financially with Europe’s elite leagues for American talent. MLS designated players earn $2-8 million yearly while American Premier League stars make similar or better wages.
| League | American Salary | Example | Career Potential |
| MLS | $400,000-$8M | Domestic players | $10-30M career |
| Serie A | €3-6 million | Pulisic, Musah | $30-80M career |
| Premier League | £3-4 million | Robinson, Adams | $25-70M career |
| Bundesliga | €3-4 million | Reyna (Dortmund) | $25-60M career |
American prospects increasingly bypass MLS entirely, joining European academies by age 16-18. This creates faster wealth accumulation during peak earning years.
Pulisic’s pathway demonstrates maximum potential. His Borussia Dortmund breakthrough led to Chelsea’s £58 million transfer before AC Milan’s €6 million contract established elite-level earnings.
How American Players Build Their Wealth
American footballers follow European pathways prioritizing Bundesliga or Dutch leagues before Premier League or Serie A moves. This progression maximizes lifetime earnings potential.
Primary Income Sources:
- Serie A and Premier League contracts offering €3-6 million annually
- Bundesliga providing €2-4 million with Champions League bonuses
- Growing American endorsement market as soccer popularity increases
- MLS late-career returns offering $2-5 million tax-advantaged
- Real estate investments in US and European club cities
McKennie built his $18 million net worth entirely through European success. His Schalke breakthrough led to Juventus’ €4.5 million contract, avoiding MLS’s lower wage structure entirely.
Pulisic’s endorsement portfolio with Hershey’s, Chipotle, and Christian Dior generates approximately $2-3 million annually beyond his AC Milan salary, showcasing growing American soccer commercial appeal.
FAQs
Who is the richest American soccer player?
Christian Pulisic leads with approximately $25 million net worth from his Chelsea and AC Milan careers. His $56.86 million market value makes him America’s most valuable footballer globally.
What is Christian Pulisic’s salary at AC Milan?
Pulisic earns approximately €6 million annually at AC Milan after his €20 million transfer from Chelsea. His Serie A contract includes Champions League bonuses potentially adding €1 million during successful seasons.
How much do USMNT players earn per match?
American players receive $10,000-$15,000 per World Cup match with progression bonuses. Gold Cup tournaments pay $8,000-$12,000, while friendlies provide $3,000-$5,000 per appearance.
What’s the average MLS salary for American players?
MLS salaries range from $65,000 minimum to $8 million for designated players. Most American MLS players earn $200,000-$800,000 annually, significantly less than European opportunities for elite talents.
Why do American players choose Europe over MLS?
European leagues offer 3-10 times higher salaries than MLS for equivalent talent levels. A player earning $500,000 in MLS can immediately jump to €2-6 million in Serie A or Premier League, dramatically accelerating wealth building during peak years.
