Most followed athletes on social media
The current social media revolution means it takes more than superhuman skill to reel in the big sponsorship deals. Having a massive social media following makes you an influencer to millions of sports fans around the world, this is a major attraction to sports brands and indeed all types of brands who want to sell product. In this article we’re looking at the most popular athletes in the world based on social media following, the amount of times they are searched on the internet and their overall star power. Accurate as of March 2020.
7. Ronaldinho
Instagram – 51.8 million
Facebook 34 million
Twitter – 19.8 million
The former Ballon dOr winners popularity will never die!
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The enigma that is Ronaldinho is perhaps one of the more surprising entries on our list of most followed athletes, but just like in his prime, the tricky Brazilian has a habit of sneaking into spaces many others could not.
6. James Rodriguez
Instagram Followers – 45.1m
Facebook Followers – 32m
Twitter Followers – 18.5m
Better known as ‘James’, he’s another footballer on the list, he hails from Colombia and played for the world’s most followed football club – Real Madrid. He played in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup, winning the Golden Boot as the goalscorer in the former tournament.
5. Lebron James – Basketball Player
Endorsements – $52m
Instagram Followers – 51.1m
Facebook Followers – 23.2m
Twitter Followers – 44.4m
Lebron James is 35 years old and still dominating the basket-balling world. He has been described as a hero and a villain. Many Cleveland fans were upset when he left for the Miami Heat in 2010 but he returned back to Cleveland four years later and played a crucial part in the Cav’s first NBA championship.
Along side the legend that is Michael Jordan, Lebron is regarded as one of the best basket ball players ever. his accomplishments include three NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He has played for the LA Lakers since 2018.
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4. David Beckham
Instagram Followers – 62m
Facebook Followers – 51m
Twitter Followers – N/A
I guess relatively new to the Instagram scene is a man we all know for both his footballing skills and his iconic personal brand, its of course David Beckham. With 62 million active followers and one of the few athletes with incredibly high post engagements, Beckham is a man that will be forever popular amongst men and women alike.
3. Neymar Jr. – Soccer Player
Instagram Followers – 131m
Facebook Followers – 60m
Twitter Followers – 45.2m
The current transfer record was set by the move of Neymar from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for ‚¬222 million (£198 million) in August of 2017. He is a man who is as famous for his fashion as his diving! At only 28 years old, his star power is set to continue for many years.
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2. Lionel Messi – Soccer Player
Endorsements – $28m
Instagram Followers – 141m
Facebook Followers – 92m
Twitter Followers – N/A
Lionel Messi remains the greatest current soccer player and one of the greatest to ever play the game. He is a man of skill, agility and pace. As Pep Guardiola once said – “Don’t write about him, don’t try to describe him. Just watch him”. He is an absolute magician on the field and a global superstar off it.
Messi has won a record six Ballon d’Or awards, and a record six European Golden Shoes. He has spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he has won a club-record 33 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles and six Copas del Rey.
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1. Cristiano Ronaldo – Soccer Player
Instagram Followers – 198 M
Facebook Followers – 124 M
Twitter Followers – 82.2 M
Ronaldo leads the way as the most popular athlete in sport and by a huge margin. Ronaldo is not just a football icon but a massive brand. He is globally recognised and at the age of 34 he has still many years to grow his fantastic legacy. After leaving Manchester United he joined Real Madrid for a lot of his career helping them lift the Champions League trophy four times. He’s a 4 time Ballon d’Or winner and one the greatest goal scorers the game has seen and will ever see. Since Ronaldo’s massive transfer to Juventus in 2019, his star power has helped the team become the 4th most followed football club on social media.
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