Brazil

Neymar has been named Brazil’s most popular player at the Qatar World Cup 2022- Joining Messi and Ronaldo on the podium

Brazil

Neymar’s 337.5 million followers sees him take top spot of the Brazilian players most followed on social media at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

In the Brazil squad Neymar is followed by compatriots Dani Alves (59 million) and Vinicius Junior (47 million) with the combined 26-man Brazil squad boasting an audience of 172.5 million. The National Association of Brazil, the CBF has an audience of 30.6 million.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his first World Cup victory before a ball has been kicked in Qatar after being named the competition’s most influential superstar on social media with 747.1 million followers.

Portugal and Manchester United’s Ronaldo was confirmed as the most followed player at the World Cup across the media of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, recording an amazing 747.1 million followers across the platforms. Making up the top three are global superstars, Argentina Captain Lionel Messi (476 million) and Brazil playmaker Neymar (337.5 million), giving the three players a combined social media reach of well in excess of one billion globally.

The top ten most followed players in the Brazil squad are detailed below:

Brazil Top Ten Players by Social Media Audience

This research was conducted by the public relations, digital and football agency PMPR Excellence to analyse the global social media influence at the World Cup. Players from all 32 finalists, 831 players, have been studied and the PMPR Football Social Influencer Tables mapping player, squad and national association reach can be found at: www.prexcellence.com/football-social-influencer-tables

PMPR Social Media Editor & PMPR Excellence Marketing Director Barry Thomson comments:

“The collective media power, projection and influence of the World Cup’s 831 footballers is over 3.9 Billion almost half of the entire population of the world (8 Billion). Ronaldo is undoubtedly the social media King of Kings of global social media influence.”

Publisher of the PMPR Social Media Influence Tables and Director of PMPR Excellence Peter McLean comments:

Neymar’s global popularity and influence is remarkable. As well as being one of the world’s best footballers he is also the biggest Brazilian media company, able to reach, more people than the entire population of Brazil (216.1M), he reaches over 337.5 million people at the touch of his phone or tablet.

Players like Neymar. Messi and Ronaldo, as well as being the best footballers in the world, are also among the largest media companies in the world.  

Of course, Neymar at 30, is the youngster of the three, with Messi 35 and Ronaldo 37. So, in time Neymar may yet emerge the most popular player in the world. Time will tell.

For the time being, Cristiano Ronaldo, is simply, the most popular human being on the planet.

Ronaldo’s figure of 747 million followers is astonishing and highlights the global reach and influence of individual football personalities. To put this into perspective, Ronaldo’s following is more than the entire population of Europe (446.8M).”

To read the full social media analysis of World Cup 2022 view the Global Summary or use the links below:

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For more information please contact:

In English Barry Thomson barry@prexcellence.com +44-771-700-6408

In English & Portuguese Peter McLean peter@prexcellence.com +44-774-774-037-1909

Notes to editors:

Disclaimer. PMPR has sought to make every reasonable effort to ensure that the data and analysis is correct. All data was collected on 1st-15th November 2022 and provides a snapshot at that time. Please send any corrections or updates to digital@prexcellence.com. It should be noted that people can of course follow multiple players and clubs across multiple channels, so this analysis measures total audience rather than unique followers. Some players do not have any social media accounts or have chosen not to have publicly visible profiles. Naturally reach is only one metric of influence.

 The Football Social Influencer Tables concept remain the exclusive property of PMPR Excellence Ltd. If publishing extracts please credit the PMPR Football Social Influencer Tables and mention our website www.prexcellence.com/football-social-influencer-tables

About PMPR: Established in the year 2000, PMPR operates locally, nationally and globally, successfully carrying out communication and negotiation in every continent and over 200 countries, helping to take messages and sports people successfully around the planet.PMPR has worked with many of the world’s biggest business, entertainment, broadcasting and sports personalities: from world football icons Pelé, Ronaldinho and Kaká, global music superstars such as Rod Stewart, film and television personalities such as Emmy Award winning actress Archie Panjabi and has conducted the PR Management for major Music events involving artists such as Beyoncé and Coldplay.The PMPR Marketing and Public Relations Division has experience of representing and being the choice of the biggest media companies in the world, including Disney’s ESPN - the world’s largest sports broadcaster. PMPR specialises in sponsorship activation and creating and delivering persuasive communications that help shape opinion and behaviour locally, nationally and around the world.The PMPR Global Football Division has represented International football players and clubs in the English Premier League and across the world and has negotiated and achieved for its clients record breaking contracts at English Premier League clubs. PMPR has direct access to key decision makers across the Big 5 European Leagues (EPL - England, Bundesliga - Germany, La Liga - Spain, Ligue 1 - France and Serie A - Italy), Brazil, China and around the world.