It’s fair to say social media now plays a massive role in football in the modern area, with players looking to impress their legions of supporters both on and off the pitch.
Fans are now able to get in touch with their heroes via their phones, although whether that is a good thing is a debate for another day.
Social media has certainly helped players grow their platform and brand, and we take a look at the top five players with the largest social media following.
5 – Ronaldinho
The former Brazil international might have retired from the beautiful game in 2015, but he still has millions of loyal supporters worldwide. Ronaldinho was considered one of the greatest players of his generation, and he made over 500 career appearances.
The former midfielder caused havoc for opposition defenders, and some of his tricks and flicks are still replayed today.
He has over 100 million followers across all platforms, and it comes as no surprise to see so many fans show their support for the former Barcelona man.
4 – David Beckham
There’s a pattern forming for now, and it seems like retired footballers still do very well with the fans.
Beckham was always destined to shine in the social media world, and his career off the pitch is just as successful as his one on it.
The former Manchester United midfielder was one of England’s best players for over a decade and was well known for his range of passing and deadly free-kicks. He now owns Inter Miami in the MLS, and after playing for the likes of Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, his global following stands at 113 million.
3 – Lionel Messi
Some consider Messi to be the greatest player of all time, but he has to settle for third in the social media rankings.
Messi’s follower count doesn’t look to have been affected by his move to PSG, but the former Barcelona hitman is not as exuberant as some of his rivals when it comes to online interaction.
Messi keeps himself to himself mainly, but because he’s arguably the best in the world right now, he has over 230 million followers.
2 – Neymar
South Americans are clearly adored when it comes to football as Neymar slots into the rankings at number two. After making a name for himself at Santos and Barcelona, Neymar’s popularity has soared even further at PSG. Brazil’s fanatic fanbase have stood by him, and he has 243 million followers, so at least he beats Messi in one department.
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo
The King of social media in the footballing world is Cristiano Ronaldo, and after his return to Manchester United, that is unlikely to change.
Red Devils fans are pining to see him in action, and he has the entire package when it comes to selling his own brand. Ronaldo lives and breaths the game and is clearly determined to carry on for years to come.
He has the most followers on Instagram and Facebook, while in total, over 400 million people follow him.