Wellington, 2 August 2023. Hildah Magaia scored in the 67th minute to put South Africa ahead of Italy at the Women’s World Cup. Deep into stoppage time, he turned provider, crossing for Thembi Kgatlana’s winner, a 3-2 victory that sent Banyana Banyana into the round of 16 for the first time.
| Hildah Magaia | At a glance |
|---|---|
| was born | 16 Dec 1994, Dennilton, South Africa |
| Position | Striker |
| Club | Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabian Women’s Premier League (from September 2026) |
| National team | South Africa, debut 2018 |
| World Cup 2023 | Goals against Sweden and Italy, 1/8 final |
| Main title | WAFCON 2022 winner and top scorer |
| Salary | It is not disclosed to the public |
Hildah Magaia salary: what is actually known
There are no numbers.
From Sweden to Saudi Arabia, none of his clubs have published what they paid him, and neither Magaia nor his representatives have put a number in the public domain, so any website quoting the exact Hildah Magaia salary is a guess. Al-Ittihad announced his arrival on Friday afternoon in September, iDiski Times reported, without disclosing the length of the deal.
It is the money of the national team in the records. Ahead of the 2023 World Cup, gsport reported that each Banyana player received 565,000 rupees, described as a FIFA appearance fee. On top of that came a R230,000 bonus funded by the Motsepe Foundation. It followed a public confrontation between the players and SAFA before the squad took off. For a more comprehensive comparison, see the breakdown of Banyana Banyana players with the most earnings.
From Dennilton to the world
His way was slow. She started at the University of Pretoria women’s team Tuks Ladies, then spent 2017-2020 at the Tshwane University of Technology, where she scored 50 goals and won the Sasol League national title in 2018, as well as the SAFA Women’s League top scorer and player of the season 2019-20 accolades.
Then the passport was filled.
In Sweden, Morön BK came in 2021, followed by Sejong Sportstoto in South Korea. He followed with a 2024 loan to Mazatlan in Mexico, Kansas City Current in the NWSL, and Club Tijuana in 2025. The next big step was to be Spain. He joined Deportivo de La Coruña in League F in January 2026. Farpost said he played in just six games before the two sides agreed to end his contract in June. “Today I say goodbye with a heart full of gratitude and mixed emotions,” she wrote on Instagram.
Three months later, the Jeddah club called.
World Cup winner
Magaia had already scored South Africa’s first goal of the tournament against Sweden. An injury forced him off and Banyana lost 2-1 without him.
He was back in Italy. He later told the Sowetan: “I never imagined myself playing in the World Cup, so it’s emotional for me.”
That week, the nickname stuck. He said his team-mates and coach told him he needed “bread”, so he continued to pitch, though it was tough, and the line about the breadwinner became Banyana’s run story until the Netherlands finished in the last 16 in Sydney.
Before and after Wellington
A year ago, he was the top scorer of WAFCON 2022. He scored the group winner against Nigeria and both goals in the 2–1 final against Morocco, South Africa’s first continental champions. This run ranks prominently in Banyana Banyana’s all-time top scorers list. Desiree Ellis has been leaning on him ever since.
Banyana status in 2025 and 2026
He remained in the squad.
At the postponed WAFCON 2024 in Morocco, Magaia scored the third goal in a 4–0 win over Mali in Oujda on 14 July 2025. Karabo put Dhlamini through with a long pass. Nigerian readers will remember the semi-final in Casablanca on July 22, 2025. She went down for a penalty converted by Linda Motlhalo, only for the Super Falcons to win 2-1. The 2026 edition was more difficult. Banyana lost their first game to Tanzania, then beat Ivory Coast 2-0. EWN reports that Magaia equalized in the ninth minute of extra time. Then they won 1:0 over Burkina Faso. In the 1/4 final held in Rabat on August 8, the host Morocco won with a score of 2:1. This pushed South Africa towards the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Our vision
For Nigerian fans, Magaia is the South African striker who continues to come up in big games against the Super Falcons. Saudi Arabia is his sixth country abroad. At 31, the move to Jeddah looks less like a new adventure than Banyana’s search for regular minutes ahead of the play-offs that decide his arrival in Brazil in 2027, as Ellis has few forwards who settle matches as he does.
His salary will probably remain a secret. He will have no goals.
This article was last revised and updated 21 seconds ago