Let’s start with something obvious: The job of a soccer player is to play soccer.
Like any job, there are some responsibilities that come with that position. The players are to perform their assigned duties — including, but not limited to scoring goals, stopping people from scoring goals, and running around — with vigor and precision. The performance metrics are easy: they either score goals or they don’t; they either stop someone or concede.
For compensation, the players receive a decent salary, one that, in theory, reflects the extent of their duties and their performance. They also — again in theory — receive praise and admiration from fans for performing their duties in the public sphere.