Soccer: Finals will be a big payday

Ben Sigmund can expect a tidy payday for his World Cup campaign. Photo / Getty Images

Players will tell you it's not about the money, and it's not. Playing at a World Cup is something footballers cherish, especially if they come from a rugby-mad nation such as New Zealand.

But not all command a salary like Ryan Nelsen, who reportedly earns $8 million a year playing for Blackburn Rovers - New Zealand's highest-paid sportsman.

There are many others who earn a comparative pittance playing in the A-League (the average salary is $105,000) and others who earn nothing more than lunch money, such as amateurs Andy Barron, James Bannatyne, Aaron Scott and James Pritchett.

A formula will be applied to divide the winnings to the New Zealand players used in qualifying for and playing at the World Cup. The system was devised by the New Zealand Professional Footballers' Association after the 2003 Confederations Cup in France, when players became embroiled in an embarrassing and controversial debate over payments.

Typically, the players can expect a 40 per cent share of any winnings, meaning they are in line to earn about $4 million of the $10 million New Zealand Football estimate they will receive from Fifa for playing in South Africa.

So far 34 players have been used and they earn points based on the number and importance of the games they play.

Centre back Ben Sigmund, who has played all eight games, and David Mulligan, who played six and was on the bench for both games against Bahrain, are so far the highest earners.

If calculations were made now, the pair would receive around $230,000, assuming New Zealand Football receive $10 million from Fifa.

Others, such as reserve goalkeeper Bannatyne and defender Scott, will receive healthy paydays for sitting on the bench but not playing a single game.

The 23 players chosen to play in South Africa should see their payday increase, which will have a bigger influence on players such as Nelsen, Rory Fallon, Michael McGlinchey, Chris Killen and Barron who played few qualifying games.

"It's going to be awesome," admitted Sigmund, who quit his sales job three years ago to see if he could make it as a professional footballer.

"It's about doing the right thing and doing something properly with the money but I'm sure I will be able to buy a few toys."