As the soccer world is abuzz with thrilling matches between Madrid, Atleti, and Barça in the Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey, another intense battle is unfolding on social media. The top teams and their star players are vying for dominance on Instagram, with the coveted title of most-followed athlete hanging in the balance. It’s no longer enough to just excel on the pitch; being a social media sensation is now a crucial aspect of a player’s brand.
In the midst of this digital showdown, Kylian Mbappé stands out as the most-followed player in the Real Madrid squad, boasting an impressive 120 million followers on Instagram. However, despite gaining 302,970 new followers over the past 30 days, he experienced a surprising loss of 4,629 followers on March 4. This slight dip is a reminder that even the biggest stars can’t afford to rest on their laurels in the ever-changing world of social media.
A Breakout Star Emerges
Raúl Asencio, the Real Madrid sensation, has been making waves on the pitch and on social media. His Instagram following has skyrocketed, with over a million new followers in the last 30 days, and he holds the record for the most followers gained in a single day, with an astonishing 48,673 new fans. Asencio’s incredible talent and charisma have captivated the soccer world, cementing his status as a rising star. Rodrygo and Bellingham are also worth mentioning, having gained over 300,000 new followers on Instagram, with the Brazilian standout adding nearly 30,000 new fans in just one day.
On the defensive side, players like Valverde and Rüdiger have seen significant growth in their follower count, with 289,980 and 289,980 new followers, respectively, over the past 30 days. Rüdiger, in particular, came close to breaking Asencio’s record, gaining over 42,000 followers in 24 hours.
Szczesny Shines on Social Media
Barça players have also been making a name for themselves on social media, albeit with slightly lower numbers than their Real Madrid counterparts. Szczesny has been the standout performer, gaining 171,000 new followers in the last 30 days and over 43,000 followers in a single day. Despite having seven teammates with more total followers than him, Szczesny’s impressive online presence has earned him a spot in the spotlight.
Lewandowski leads the pack with nearly 37 million followers on Instagram, but Lamine Yamal has been the fastest-growing player, with 574,950 new followers in the last month. Raphinha has also seen significant growth, with over 350,000 new followers in the past 30 days, a trend that’s also been observed in players like Pedri and Cubarsí, who have gained 200,580 and 140,250 new followers, respectively.
Atleti’s Struggle to Keep Up
The Atlético de Madrid players have not been as fortunate in terms of social media following. Griezmann, the team’s most-followed player, has lost 76,140 followers in the last 30 days, while Rodrigo de Paul has lost nearly 40,000 followers, with a particularly rough day that saw him lose 2,700 followers. However, Julián has been a beacon of hope, gaining 190,000 new followers in a month and reaching over 13,000 new followers in just 24 hours.
As the social media landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: being a successful soccer player requires more than just skill on the pitch. A strong online presence is crucial for building a loyal fan base and staying ahead of the competition. With the help of tools like Social Blade, we can track the ever-changing world of soccer social media and see which players are rising to the top.