French club Lyon were ordered by FIFA to compensate former player Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir for an effective pay cut during her pregnancy.
The 32-year-old on Tuesday hailed the ruling as a guarantee of financial security for all female players, in an open letter published in The Players' Tribune.
Global players' union FIFPro also hailed what they called "a landmark ruling", a decision passed down by the FIFA football tribunal in May 2022.
Lyon, record eight-time Women's Champions League winners, put Gunnarsdottir on maternity leave in 2021.
FIFA said clubs must pay pregnant players their full salary and ruled against Lyon.
Gunnarsdottir joined from Wolfsburg in 2020. She helped Lyon win the French title and also scored in their Champions League final win over Wolfsburg.
In early 2021 she became pregnant, but continued to play and train until returning to Iceland, with a plan for an immediate return to France after the birth.
The Icelandic international said Lyon failed to pay her wages as she instead received just a fraction from state benefits.
But on Tuesday the club were ordered to compensate her 82,000 euros ($88,577).
"The victory felt like a guarantee of financial security for all players who want to have a child during their career," said Gunnarsdottir, who had a son, Ragnar, in November 2021.
"These are part of my rights, and this can't be disputed -- even by a club as big as Lyon."
Gunnarsdottir left Lyon at the end of last season and signed a two-year deal with Italian club Juventus.
