How to say "footballer" in Japanese

• フットボーラー
  nounThe direct loanword from English 'footballer', covering the same sense: a player of football. It is a less common choice, for when you want the English term itself.
• サッカー選手サッカーせんしゅ
  nounLiterally 'soccer player', this covers 'footballer' when the sport meant is association football. A less common match for the English word, but it says plainly what the person is.
  トムはいつかよいサッカー選手せんしゅになるでしょう。↗

  Tom will become a good soccer player some day.

Both render the same sense, a football player, so choose 「サッカー選手」, literally 'soccer player', when the sport is association football, and 「フットボーラー」 when you want the borrowed English term itself; both are less common.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• フットボーラーfootballer
• サッカー選手サッカーせんしゅsoccer player