‘Ronaldo most popular man in the World’

(Well maybe not at Old Trafford!)

• Gareth Bale is named Wales and Britain’s most popular player at the Qatar 2022 World Cup

• Harry Kane is named England’s most popular player at the Qatar 2022 World Cup

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

Ronaldo, is simply, the most popular man in the world, while not maybe favourite at Old Trafford this week after his recent interview and criticism of his manager and other players. For the World on social media, he is the most popular man on the planet.

The Portuguese forward has been confirmed as the most followed player at the World Cup across Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, recording an amazing 747.1 million followers across the platforms. He beats Argentina captain Lionel Messi (476 million) and Brazil star Neymar Jr (337.5 million) to the title. The three players have a combined social media reach of well in excess of one billion globally.

The most followed British player comes from a country of only 3 million people, Wales. Gareth Bale is the 5th most followed player overall at the World Cup with 100.3 million followers. Bale can reach 100.3 million people at the touch of his phone or tablet, communicating with more than twelve times the population of Wales (3.1 million) and over 30 million more than the entire population of the UK (68.7 million).

In the England squad for Qatar World Cup 2022, Tottenham’s Harry Kane, is the most followed English player on social media, with 28.24 million followers, ahead of compatriots Marcus Rashford (27.30 million) and Raheem Sterling (21.00 million). The combined 26-man England squad totals (165.24 million). The English FA has an audience of 15.17 million. (The top ten most followed players in the England squad are detailed below).

To put this into perspective, Ronaldo’s following is more than 4.5 times larger than the combined following of the England squad (164 million). Bigger than the population of all the countries he has played in put together, England (55.9 million), Italy (59 million), Spain (47.3 million) and Portugal (10.1 million): total: 172.3 million.

You would have to fill Wembley Stadium’s 90,000 capacity over 8,000 times to reach close to the number of people who follow Ronaldo on social media. Or Qatar’s 80,000 capacity World Cup Final Stadium the Lusail Stadium, over 9,000 times.

His following amounts to more than the entire population of Europe (446.8 million).

This research was conducted by the public relations, digital and football agency PMPR Excellence to analyse social media influence at the World Cup. Players from all 32 finalists 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:

“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 4.5 times larger than the combined following of the England squad (164 million).

Bigger than the population of all the countries he has played in put together, England (55.9 million), Italy (59 million) Spain (47.3 million), Portugal (10.1 million): total 172.3 million.

You would have to fill Wembley Stadium’s 90,000 capacity over 8,000 times to reach close to the number of people who follow Ronaldo every day. Or Qatar’s 80,000 capacity World Cup Final Stadium the Lusail Stadium would need to be filled over 9,000 times.

His following amounts to more than the entire population of Europe (446.8million).

Gareth Bale’s global popularity and influence is remarkable. As well as being one of the world’s top footballers he is also the biggest Welsh media company and one of the biggest in the UK, able to reach 100.5M people at the touch of his phone or tablet, he communicates with more than twelve times the population of Wales (3.1M) and over 30 million more than the entire population of the UK (68.7M).

‘Harry Kane’s global popularity and influence is significant. As well as being one of the world’s top footballers he is also one of the biggest English media companies, able to reach 50.5M people at the touch of his phone or tablet, almost the entire population of England (55.9 million) and over 5 times the population of England’s capital, Harry’s home city: London (8.9M).

Players like Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar Benzema, Bale and Kane as well as being among the best footballers in the world, are also among the largest media companies in the world too”

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

Click here to jump to Group A

Click here to jump to Group B

Click here to jump to Group C

Click here to jump to Group D

Click here to jump to Group E

Click here to jump to Group F

Click here to jump to Group G

Click here to jump to Group H

For more information please contact:

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

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

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.