Five footballers who became social media celebrities during the World Cup | 2026 World Championship

The article on the social-media boom at the 2026 World Championship highlights how several footballers turned World Cup visibility into large follower growth. It notes that while legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar have long boosted their Instagram reach, the 2026 tournament accelerated audience increases. Erling Haaland, a 25-year-old Norwegian striker, has more than 70 million Instagram followers, with Social Blade analysis cited saying 29 million were added in the past 30 days. The piece expects his total to reach 75 million after the final and almost 322 million by year-end. It also profiles Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose followers rose from 500,000 to nearly five million after a 0-0 draw against Spain in the opener. The article frames these surges as driven by personal, “authentic” posting during the six-week event, expanding reach far beyond matchdays.