Aitana Bonmati and Jude Bellingham are two of football’s most prominent young talents, representing the pinnacle of achievement in their respective divisions—Bonmati as a standout in women’s football with FC Barcelona Femení, and Bellingham as a superstar for Real Madrid.
Both these stars have gotten off to solid starts in their respective leagues. Bonmati has one goal in three games and Bellingham, currently recovering from an injury has an assist from the 3 games he’s featured in.
The two recently took the centre stage together at the FC25 launch event. Both Bonmati and Bellingham are the cover stars for the new edition of the game. The inclusion of Bonmati, the only female athlete on the cover of the game marks a significant moment for the star.
The two continue to make headlines on the pitch, and their earnings, bonuses, endorsements reflect their success on the pitch.
What can be seen when reading into their earnings is that even though both of them are at the top of their game, the disparity in their earnings is a reflection of broader trends in football in terms of the gender pay gap.
Aitana Bonmati recently signed a lucrative contract extension with FC Barcelona, keeping her at the club until 2028.
Though the exact details of her base salary remain confidential, industry estimates suggest the 26-year-old is now the highest-paid player in women’s football, earning around €1 million ($1.1 million) annually. This equates to approximately €19,230 ($20,900) per week.
This deal includes a remarkable $105 million release clause, highlighting her importance to the team’s future success.
Jude Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid was one of the biggest transfers in recent years. Signed from Borussia Dortmund for a base fee of €103 million ($110 million), plus €30 million ($32 million) in potential bonuses.
Bellingham has a six-year contract with Madrid until 2029. His base salary is €400,577 ($424,600) per week, or around €20.8 million ($22.1 million) annually, excluding bonuses.
Jude’s salary is structured to reward exceptional performance. Alongside his base pay, the 21-year-old can receive additional weekly bonuses of around €80,192 ($85,600), which depend on goal tallies, assists, and team achievements.
For Bonmati, while the specifics of her bonus structure are undisclosed, it’s typical for top players like her to receive bonuses for goals, assists, and titles. If her weekly wage reaches the projected €19,230, she could see annual earnings approach €1.2 million ($1.3 million) if bonuses are included.
Bonmati recently returned to Adidas in what is considered the largest commercial contract for a female soccer player. After being the leading face for Mercurial with Nike, she now sports signature Predator boots and joins a select list of athletes.
Although the exact financial details of the deal have not been publicly disclosed, it is noted that this partnership includes significant investments in her first team, CD Ribes, and various social initiatives.
Bonmati also has a deal with Grupo Bimbo, a Mexican multinational food company. In her role, Bonmatí will work to ensure that women’s sports receive the necessary support and visibility to thrive.
This collaboration builds on Grupo Bimbo’s existing partnership with FC Barcelona, where Bonmatí plays, further solidifying their commitment.
Along with this Bonmati has also recently started her own brand of sunglasses, known as AB Sunglasses that is run by her and her family.
Bellingham, on the other hand, is a marketing juggernaut. His multi-year contract with Adidas is valued at several million dollars and includes the design of special Predator Edge boots.
Apart from this it is clear that he is the face of Adidas going forward, as he holds an exclusive clothing line under Adidas, the JB collection.
Sources suggest that Jude Bellingham earns a whopping £2.6 million per year from his Adidas deal that was signed back in 2023.
Bellingham also has ties to the sports and energy drinks vertical, he signed a multi year deal with British brand Lucozade in May 2024.
This partnership between Jude and Lucozade positions Bellingham as the face of Lucozade’s new campaign titled “Bring the Energy,” which was launched prior to the Euro 2024.
While the exact financial terms remain unspecified, the characterization of the deal as “multi-million pound” indicates a significant investment by Lucozade in Bellingham’s endorsement.
Bellingham has dipped his toes into fashion endorsements as well, partnering with Kim Kardashian’s clothing line SKIMS and Louis Vuitton.
While the value for both these endorsements are not disclosed the public, Jude Bellingham’s net worth can be estimated to be around $50 million, making him one of the wealthiest young footballers in the world.
All these financial numbers of Jude Bellingham are also backed up by his social media following. The Englishman boasts over 36 million Instagram followers, dwarfing Aitana Bonmati’s 1.5 million followers on the platform, who might be the highest paid women’s footballer but is not the most followed on Instagram.
Both Aitana Bonmati and Jude Bellingham are redefining what it means to be a footballing star in their respective arenas. Bonmati’s €1 million yearly salary is groundbreaking for women’s football, but it pales in comparison to Bellingham’s €20.8 million base earnings at Real Madrid.
This financial gap underscores the broader disparities between men’s and women’s football, even at the highest levels.
While both players are champions in their own right, the financial figures tell a story of contrasting market valuations and commercial potential.