United Nations use Messi as example to demand equal pay for women footballers

The wage of the Catalan gun has been used to emphasize the pay gap between sexes. 

United Nations entity UN Women has used the salary of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi as an example in their campaign to reduce the wage gap between men and women in sport.

The inter goverment organisation utilised their Facebook page to highlight the US$84million yearly salary and bonuses being nearly double of the combined annual wage (US$42.6m) of the 1693 women footballers in the top seven leagues.

"One male soccer player makes almost double the combined salaries of all players in the top 7 women's soccer leagues," the UN post read.

Pay discrimination has been a hot topic during the Women's World Cup in France with 28 U.S. women's national team players currently embroiledbin in a lawsuit with U.S. Soccer over wage issues.

The lawsuit, which was filed in March, is being led by current USWNT stars Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn.

They are seeking financial damages and a stop to "discriminatory practices" allegedly used by the USA's football governing body in regards to salaries.

U.S Soccer have agreed to a mediation hearing with the aggrieved players that is scheduled to be held at the conclusion of the World Cup.