CORNERFLICK
Erling Haaland gained 30 million Instagram followers during the 2026 World Cup, more than any other player in the tournament, according to SocialBlade.
His total rose from 40.7 million before kick-off to 70.7 million after the final, with Norway’s run to the quarter-finals and Haaland’s seven goals driving the surge.
By comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo added 10.2 million followers over the same period. Neymar gained 6.8 million and Lionel Messi 6.1 million, while Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha also recorded a major rise with 29.2 million new followers.
Haaland’s on-pitch output matched the spike online. In his first World Cup, he finished with seven goals and one assist, and clips of his goals and movement spread quickly across social media.
His online profile has also been helped by a playful social media style, with regular day-to-day videos and jokes with team-mates.