  The measurement of the production of ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ in inelastic pp
collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV is presented. This is the first reported
measurement of inclusive ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ yield at LHC energies. The
production is measured at midrapidity, $|y| < 0.5$, in a wide transverse
momentum range, $0 < p_{\rm T} < 16$ GeV/$c$, by reconstructing the resonance
in the ${\rm f}_{0}(980) \rightarrow \pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ hadronic decay channel
using the ALICE detector. The $p_{\rm T}$-differential yields are compared to
those of pions, protons and $\phi$ mesons as well as to predictions from the
HERWIG 7.2 QCD-inspired Monte Carlo event generator and calculations from a
coalescence model that uses the AMPT model as an input. The ratio of the
$p_{\rm T}$-integrated yield of ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ relative to pions is
compared to measurements in ${\rm e}^{+}{\rm e}^{-}$ and pp collisions at lower
energies and predictions from statistical hadronisation models and HERWIG 7.2.
A mild collision energy dependence of the ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ to pion production
is observed in pp collisions from SPS to LHC energies. All considered models
underpredict the $p_{\rm T}$-integrated $2{\rm f}_{0}(980)/(\pi^{+}+\pi^{-})$
ratio. The prediction from the canonical statistical hadronisation model
assuming a zero total strangeness content of ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ is consistent
with the data within 1.9$\sigma$ and is the closest to the data. The results
provide an essential reference for future measurements of the particle yield
and nuclear modification in p$-$Pb and Pb$-$Pb collisions, which have been
proposed to be instrumental to probe the elusive nature and quark composition
of the ${\rm f}_{0}(980)$ scalar meson.
