The 2026 FIFA World Cup not only captivated football fans on the pitch but also reshaped the social media landscape, with several players recording significant increases in their Instagram followings during the tournament.
According to data shared by Sportico, standout performances, historic achievements and memorable moments contributed to millions of new followers for some of football’s biggest names.
Breakthrough Stars and Record Gains
Norway striker Erling Haaland recorded the highest increase in followers during the tournament.
His Instagram account grew by 32.1 million, rising from 40.6 million before the World Cup to 72.7 million afterward.
Haaland’s performances throughout the competition, coupled with Norway’s impressive campaign, saw him become one of the tournament’s most talked-about players both on and off the pitch.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha registered the second-largest increase, gaining 29.4 million followers.
Before the tournament, the veteran shot-stopper had just 30,000 followers on Instagram.
By the end of the World Cup, that figure had climbed to 29.4 million, making him one of the competition’s biggest social media success stories.
His rise followed Cape Verde’s historic run to the knockout stages, where his crucial saves and emotional celebrations drew worldwide attention.
Steady Surges for Global Superstars
England midfielder Jude Bellingham added 12 million followers during the World Cup.
His Instagram following increased from 41.3 million to 53.3 million, reflecting the attention generated by his performances as England progressed deep into the tournament.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo also experienced notable growth despite already having one of the world’s largest social media audiences.
His account increased by 11.4 million followers, moving from 665.6 million to 677 million during the competition.
Spain winger Lamine Yamal gained 11 million followers, taking his Instagram audience from 43.3 million to 54.3 million.
His performances throughout Spain’s successful World Cup campaign contributed to his growing global profile.
Brazil forward Neymar added 7.7 million followers, increasing his total from 234.3 million to 242 million, while Argentina captain Lionel Messi gained 7.5 million, taking his following from 506.5 million to 514 million.
Rising Talents Making Big Impression
Elsewhere, Mexico’s Gilberto Mora saw his account grow from 1.1 million to 7.7 million, representing an increase of 6.6 million followers.
France’s Michael Olise gained 5.7 million, with his following rising from 5.2 million to 10.9 million, while Brazil youngster Endrick added 5.6 million, growing from 18.3 million to 23.9 million.
