Sport is one of the largest industries in the world. Billions dollars move annually between the major sports leagues between television rights, transfers, ticket and souvenir sales, and marketing.
It is therefore not surprising that athletes become true icons for fans and their devotion is transmitted on social media, which lend themselves to fans being able to follow and learn a little more about the lives of the world’s greatest figures.
It is no secret either that football is the king of sports, being practiced in a regulated manner by More than 270 million people according to FIFA It is normal that among the most followed athletes on the planet there are several footballers.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The icon of Portugal. Born in 1985 in Madeira, he is one of the most recognized athletes on the planet and this is reflected in the number of people who follow him on social media.
On Instagram alone, the Portuguese has 637 million followers. To that could be added 112.7 million on X, 170 on Facebook and 47.4 on his recently opened YouTube channel. a total of 967.1 million people follow him.
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo’s great rival. The Argentine world champion has 504 million followers on Instagram.
The number rises if we take into account the 116 million on Facebook, and the 3.09 on YouTube for a total of 623.09 million followers.
Virat Kohli
He is the first non-footballer on the list. Virat Kohli is an Indian cricketer who has 271 million followers on his Instagram account alone.
Adding your X and Facebook accounts, you reach a total of 386.7 million.
Neymar Jr
The third football player on the list, the Brazilian is recognised worldwide for his style of play and his charisma.
On social networks it adds 378.7 million followers distributed as follows: 224 on Instagram, 91 on Facebook and 63.7 on X.
LeBron James
“King James” is the first and only professional basketball player to be in the top 10 of the most followed players on social media.
His Instagram has 160 million, then his Facebook accumulates 27 and in X there are 53.
In total, 240 million people follow him.
Kylian Mbappé
The young French star and new signing for Real Madrid in 2024 has 122 million followers on Instagram, 1.01 on YouTube, 17 on Facebook and 14.4 on X for a total of 144.41.
Ronaldinho
The Brazilian star has been retired for several years now, but that has not stopped his influence in the world of football and social media. A total of 154.2 million people follow him. His Instagram account has the most followers with 76.7, then Facebook with 56 and finally his X account with 21.5.
David Beckham
The former footballer, now model and businessman has 146.3 million people as followers. On Instagram he has 88.3, on Facebook 58 and he does not have an account on X.
Benzema
The other Frenchman on the list with his 143.1 million followers. Instagram is the social network where he has the most with 76.5; on Facebook he has 45 and on YouTube 500 thousand and on X 21.1.
Sergio Ramos
The Spaniard is the one who completes the top 10 most followed on social networks with his 122.2 million. They have 63.9 million on Instagram, 38 on Facebook and 20.3 on X.
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