Imagine this: Pernille Harder, Danish national team striker and Bayern Munich star, says it’s absurd to talk about equal pay between men and women in football! Yes, you read that right. While the world fights for equality, she throws a cold splash of reality on the idea that women in football could ever earn as much as Ronaldo or Messi.
Women’s football has made huge strides in recent years. FIFA and UEFA have invested parts of the revenue from men’s tournaments into developing women’s competitions, and many big European clubs have started financially supporting their women’s teams. But Harder makes it clear the road to equal pay is long and thorny.
She never claimed she should earn as much as the biggest male stars because she thinks it’s pointless and unrealistic. Instead, her goal is for women in football to have equal conditions and be equally prioritized by clubs. The differences are massive—from training pitches to ice baths.
Harder has played for top clubs like Wolfsburg, Chelsea, and Bayern, and thanks to her status as one of the world’s best female footballers, she’s been able to save money over the years. But she points out that many female players don’t have the time or energy to get an education or prepare for life after football because they invest insane amounts of time and energy into their careers. That’s why their salary should allow them to save and not worry about the future once they stop playing.
The Danish national team, with Harder in the squad, will soon face Germany in a crucial group stage match, and this topic of pay and conditions will surely heat up even more.
Is it time to stop dreaming about equal pay and start fighting for equal conditions? Or is this just another illusion in the world of football? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s on which side!
