The 2026 World Cup sparked a massive social media boom, with Erling Haaland, Vozinha, Jude Bellingham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal among players who gained millions of new followers.
Haaland, Vozinha, Messi, Ronaldo: Players who gained most followers during World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup did more than create football heroes.
It also transformed players into global social media stars, with millions of fans rushing to Instagram to follow the tournament's biggest names.
While established superstars continued to grow their audiences, several breakout performers enjoyed unprecedented spikes in popularity, according to Goal.com and Sportico.
Vozinha
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Haaland gana por goleada el Mundial de las redes sociales
See which 2026 World Cup stars gained the most Instagram followers, from Erling Haaland and Vozinha to Cristiano Ronaldo and…
On-pitch heroics and loveable personalities have skyrocketed the social media following of some footballers.
Little-known soccer players from Cabo Verde, New Zealand and elsewhere took in huge new social media followings.
El torneo ha provocado un salto histórico en la popularidad digital de los futbolistas
Craque norueguês teve 'boom' no Instagram após derrotar o Brasil
Previously unknown players have gained millions of social media followers thanks to attention of tournament
