STARTLING STATS: Women footballers earn less than 5% of men's pay

Women's football has come a long way since the first World Cup in 1991. Back then, the tournament hosted by China technically wasn't called the 'World Cup'. This is because Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the governing body for football, was reluctant to attach its 'World Cup' brand name to the tournament. It was ridiculously called the '1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup.'

By the next edition in 1995, FIFA relented to the 'World Cup' branding. The ongoing Women's World Cup, now in its seventh edition, has been expanded from 16 to 24 teams. The Men's World Cup last year in Brazil had 32 teams by comparison. Less people may watch the Women's World Cup versus the Men's but women are being paid a pittance as compared to men. These startling figures show the disparity between the genders when it comes to football:

$358 million vs $15 million

Total prize money on offer in the men's edition last year was $358 million

Total prize money in the women's edition is only $15 million

$8 million vs $2 million

The 16 teams knocked out in the group stage of last year's Men's World Cup earned $8 million each from FIFA

Winner of this year's Women's World Cup will earn a paltry $2 million

$35 million vs $2 million

Germany, the winners of the 2014 Men's World Cup earned a cool $35 million

The winner of the USA-Japan Women's World Cup final on 5 July will pocket $2 million

$25 million vs $1.6 million

The runners-up of the Men's World Cup will earn a nice sum of $25 million

The Women's World Cup runners-up will earn only $1.6 million

$9 million vs $200,000

The 8 teams that lose in round 16 of the men's edition earned $9 million each

The 8 losing women's teams earned only $200,000 each

$29 million vs $22 million

The movie, United Passions - a fictionalised chronicle of the life and times of FIFA, cost FIFA an estimated $29 million

FIFA is investing $22 million in women's football from 2015-2018