For the past 12 years that I have been involved with youth soccer, when I asked youth players ranging from the age of 6 to 19 what their goal in soccer is, they have all said, “I want to become a professional player,” except for a handful of them. Every player dreams of becoming the next Messi, Marta, and Ronaldo. Every parent’s dream is to help their son or daughter achieve their goals and witness their success.
I believe in dreaming, setting goals, and pursuing them. No one has the right to tell another person if they can or cannot achieve a goal. The next GOAT may just be your son or daughter. Messi’s idol was Maradona. Did he ever think he would be better than him? I don’t know. But we all know the drive of Ronaldo, how competitive he has always been, and his drive to be the best since childhood.
Players in Europe and South America, for the most part, come from very humble beginnings where education is not an option to escape poverty. Therefore, soccer is the only way out. In the last article, we discussed the pain that such players have endured, and that pain has propelled them towards success. For every one person who has made it, there are tens of thousands who did not.
In the US, the option of education exists. Furthermore, we must consider the shelf life or longevity of a soccer player. In the MLS, for instance, the average shelf life of a player is 2 1/2 years. Worldwide, it is 7 years. So the question is, what comes next?
Before we proceed, I want to clarify that this information is applicable to all players of all ages. The aim of this article is to assist parents and players in comprehending their current position, determining their desired destination, assessing the timeframe available to reach their goals, and gauging the level of dedication and effort needed to achieve their dreams. By understanding these aspects, we can operate efficiently and establish a clear roadmap towards success. Now, let’s delve into statistics and numbers:
Number of leagues in the world with a decent average salary:
As you can see, there are 33 leagues with over a $35,000 average salary per year. Let’s be generous and include their 2nd division as well. So now we have 66 leagues. Each league, on average, comprises 20 teams. That gives us 1,320 teams to choose from. Let’s double that number just for fun. This way, we can include the Saudi league or any newcomer league as well. Keep in mind, these leagues offer an average pay of approximately $200,000 a year to their players, and the league is full of retired stars. That means there are 2,640 teams available worldwide to try out and play as a professional player.
To be a starter on any of these teams, one needs to be among the top 2,600 players worldwide for the position they play, for anyone between the ages of 16-39.
Now, you may argue that there are more teams such as semi-professional teams, or that there are reserve teams or player spots for each of these teams, but to have a decent salary to live off of, one must be among the top 2,600 players for their position.
Let’s now consider these salaries. One would have to pay taxes, agent fees, insurance, etc., which would equate to approximately 40-60% depending on the country.
For instance, if you are playing in the MLS with an average salary of $200,000 a year, after paying taxes and other fees, you are left with approximately between $100,000-$120,000 a year. To purchase a house in California, an average house would cost approximately $500,000-$1.2 million. The $10,000 a month for loan payment, insurance, and utilities, if lucky, will eat up the salary. With an average shelf life of 2 1/2 years in soccer, by the time a player is 24 according to these numbers, they will be out of the sport. So the question then becomes, what’s next? Without education or experience, this former professional player with minimal savings would likely qualify to become a coach at a local club, aspiring to become a director.
Is this the road to success? Of course, there are players like Messi and Ronaldo who earn over 9 figures and boast impressive longevity in the sport.
Consider where Ronaldo and Messi were at 11 years old – Ronaldo was at Sporting CP, renowned as a great talent, while Messi was at La Masia in Barcelona. If your son or daughter is playing in a non-professional, pay-to-play club and competing in the highest leagues for men like MLSNext or ECNL for girls, the path to becoming a professional player becomes more challenging due to the numerous steps required to reach such a high level.
We have previously discussed the success rate and current status of the u12 FC Barcelona team from 2016, one of the most remarkable youth teams I have witnessed.
Now, let’s take a closer look at FC Barcelona’s B04 Team from 2016, the victorious team of the MIC cup and where are they at now in 2023:
Where are those players NOW?
Alvaro Aljama- u19 Damm
Diego Almeida- No Longer Playing
Pol Munoz- Lecce u19
Alex Valle- Levante
Adri Capdevila- UD Lagrones
Pau Segarra- No Longer Playing
Aleix Garrido- Barca B
Adrian Bobi-UE Castelldefels
Pablo Lopez (c)- Sabadell B
Pablo Paez (Gavi)- FC Barcelona
Narcis Costa- Vila Olimpica
Alain Martine- No Longer Playing
Marc Jurado-Espanyol B
Antonio Caravaca- Sorrento FC
Iker Almena- Academica Coimbra
Pol Melet– Sant Andreu u19
Now, let’s dive into some other professions:
Average Doctor Annual Compensation by Specialty
Here are the top medical specialties, ranked by average income:
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- Plastic Surgery: $619,000
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- Orthopedics: $573,000
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- Cardiology: $507,000
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- Urology: $506,000
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- Gastroenterology: $501,000
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- Otolaryngology: $485,000
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- Radiology: $483,000
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- Oncology: $463,000
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- Anesthesiology: $448,000
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- Dermatology: $443,000
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- Surgery, General: $412,000
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- Critical Care: $406,000
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- Ophthalmology: $388,000
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- Pulmonary Medicine: $378,000
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- Emergency Medicine: $352,000
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- Pathology: $339,000
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- Ob/Gyn: $337,000
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- Neurology: $313,000
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- Nephrology: $312,000
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- Psychiatry: $309,000
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- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: $306,000
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- Allergy and Immunology: $282,000
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- Rheumatology: $281,000
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- Internal Medicine: $273,000
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- Diabetes and Endocrinology: $267,000
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- Infectious Diseases: $262,000
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- Family Medicine: $255,000
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- Pediatrics: $251,000
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- Public Health and Preventative Medicine: $249,000
Source: MedScape Physician Compensation Report, 2023
For Law for instance:
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- Patent attorney: $180,000
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- Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000
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- Trial lawyer: $134,000
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- Tax attorney: $122,000
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- Corporate lawyer: $115,000
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- Medical lawyer: $113,000
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- Real estate lawyer: $98,000
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- Family lawyer: $93,000
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- Criminal defense lawyer: $86,000
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- Immigration lawyer: $83,000
In Investment Banking World:
| Analyst | 22-27 | $100-$125K | $140-$190K | 2-3 years |
| Associate | 25-35 | $175-$225K | $225-$425K | 3-4 years |
| Vice President (VP) | 28-40 | $250-$300K | $450-$650K | 3-4 years |
| Director / Senior Vice President (SVP) | 32-45 | $300-$350K | $550-$750K | 2-3 years |
| Managing Director (MD) | 35-50 | $400-$600K | $600-$1300K+ | N/A |
Keep in mind that many of these numbers may be manipulated or solely based on salaries. These figures can vary significantly when considering Managing Partners or individuals who own their own businesses.
At Pivot Mental Mastery, our goal is to help players reverse engineer their lives. Our approach goes beyond the numbers because we focus on guiding players to understand their true selves, motivations, core values, and how to think critically. By the time they reach their goals, they are equipped to look beyond mere statistics.
The question arises: Is it possible for a player to achieve professional soccer success while pursuing a higher level of education? The answer is a resounding YES. Look at examples like Hugo Sanchez (Dentist)and Socrates (Physician), who excelled both on the field and academically.
Now, let’s look into Average GPA required to get into College these days:
Let’s take Stanford as an example. To gain admission to Stanford, a minimum GPA of 3.9 is required, with an acceptance rate of just 4%. Do you believe a 3.9 GPA will secure your spot? Are you willing to take the risk with an average GPA and a 4% acceptance rate, or should you aim for a significantly higher GPA coupled with a plethora of extracurricular activities?
Another essential consideration is obtaining soccer scholarships. Even if you excel on the field, without the academic grades, your chances of college acceptance diminish. However, having the grades alongside the interest of a coach can open doors for you. Education and grades hold more weight than soccer skills in this context.
With 205 NCAA Men’s and 333 Women’s D1 colleges, D1 colleges offering 9.9 scholarships annually to their players, ranging from freshmen to seniors. These scholarships may not cover the full amount but provide valuable support that could be as modest as $1000 a year.
Have you pondered the financial investment you are making in your child’s soccer development each year? Travel expenses, camps, gas, and other costs add up to an average of over $7,000 annually. Over ten years, this investment amounts to $70,000, with a modest 4% return equating to $94K in cash value.
Your focus should be clear. While not steering you away from soccer, we aim to prepare you for the challenges ahead. Mapping out your journey, understanding your goals, and having the necessary tools and support are crucial. Pivot helps you break down the algorithm of soccer success, guiding you with a blueprint for success. We aim to illuminate the path to your North Star efficiently and effectively, offering the expertise and support needed to navigate unfamiliar territories.
Join us at Pivot as we work together to achieve your goals and set you up for success. Your future star deserves the best guidance, and we are here to provide that. Efficiency is key, and time is invaluable. Let Pivot be your partner, your secret weapon in navigating the road to success. We eagerly anticipate your feedback and hope you will consider joining the Pivot Curriculum for further guidance and support.