Three-time Ballon d’Or and The Best winner Aitana Bonmatí remains the best player in the world today. There is no debate there. The attacking midfielder at FC Barcelona has the most valuable feet in women’s football.
But the global conversation is starting to tilt toward a different profile.
The immediate impact – physical, cultural and financial – of Trinity Rodman signals the arrival of a new era in the women’s game. Above all, it opens an elite discussion with a clear statement: top-tier women footballers are now commanding more space, visibility and pay.
Rodman DNA
Drafted as the youngest player in NWSL history, Rodman became an attacking reference before turning 20. Now she sits on the podium of the world’s highest-paid players after renewing with the club of her life, Washington Spirit. Her rise has been as fast as it has been definitive.
A natural winger – explosive, direct and relentless in breaking lines – the eldest daughter of the legendary Dennis Rodman made her professional debut in 2021. Five years later, she is a franchise cornerstone, a national icon and the face of a groundbreaking deal that will pay her more than $1 million a year.
“She’s not just a player – she’s a role model. Her power elevates our game, and her imprint truly extends beyond the white lines,” said Michele Kang, the Spirit’s owner, during the major event held at BMO Stadium to honor Rodman.
The Newport Beach, California native has shattered a ceiling that once seemed unreachable even for established US stars such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe or Sophia Smith. That context underscores just how seismic this moment is.
Before Rodman’s extension, the highest salaries in the NWSL ranged between $400,000 and $500,000 per season. By contrast, the minimum annual salary for a standard senior contract in Major League Soccer is about $70,000. The gap was structural – until now.
With “Trin” as the banner flying highest, the expectation is that appreciation for the artistry and impact of women players will finally translate into compensation that reflects their value. Her deal has reset the benchmark.
Converted into dollars, Bonmatí’s reported €1 million salary comes to roughly $1.07 million, the highest figure before Washington’s financial jolt with Rodman. The numbers now sit side by side.
Bonmatí remains the gold standard – the purest expression of total football, a creator whose influence is measured in trophies, Ballon d’Ors and universal respect. But football never stands still.
Rodman does not arrive to dethrone the untouchable Bonmatí in any sporting sense. She does, however, shift the axis of the conversation. While Europe rewards precision, control and tactical intelligence, the United States prices immediate impact and elevates its standard-bearers.
The era has not changed queens. It has expanded the throne.