UN-WOMEN reveals Lionel Messi's annual earnings more than 1,693 top female footballers

Equality in wage rate between male and female footballers is the hot topic during the Women’s World Cup

Lionel Messi’s yearly earning has been used as an example by the United Nations Women, in their movement to bring equality and deduct the wage gap between men and women in the world of sport.

According to the organisation, the Barcelona superstar was the center of attention for his $84 million-a-year income from his salary, bonuses, commercial deals and other payments which turns out to be almost double the combined annual wage ($42.6m) of the 1,693 women footballers in the top seven leagues.

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"One male soccer player makes almost double the combined salaries of all players in the top seven women's soccer leagues," the UN post read.

"During the Women's World Cup 2019, join UN Women in demanding equal pay for women in sport."

Equality in wage rate has been the talk of the town during the Women’s World Cup, while over 28 US women’s national players are involved in a lawsuit with the US Soccer over wage problems.

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The face of the US national team, Alex Morgan and her teammates Megan Rapinoe, Carli Llyod and Becky Sauerbunn have all raised their concerns over pay discrimination against female footballers.

The holders USWNT are set to face favourites and hosts France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Paris on June 28. The winner will either play England or Norway in the semis.