The 2024 European Football Championship caused a stir not only on the pitch, but also on social media. We show you which players had the greatest reach during the European Championship.
With the spectacular final of the 2024 European Football Championship, in which Spain triumphed against England, not only the sporting achievements but also the digital presence of the players are in the spotlight. The social media agency 1000heads has analyzed social media activities throughout the tournament and is now presenting the study “Team of the Tournament, Social Edition” to show which football professionals achieved the greatest reach during the European Championship.
The 11 players with the most followers and the greatest reach
The analysis focuses on the eleven players with the most Instagram followers, whose teams have reached at least the quarter-finals and who at the same time have achieved the greatest reach on social media. In addition, the number of followers of each player on the day the tournament began (June 14, 2024) was recorded, as well as their growth until the end of the tournament (July 15, 2024). This resulted in the following top eleven players of the 2024 Social Media European Championship, categorized by playing position:
Goalkeeper:
- Manuel Neuer (Germany): 13.9 million Instagram followers, an increase of 228.6 thousand new subscribers and 8,800 mentions.
Defender:
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands): 15.8 million followers, an increase of 130.9 thousand subscribers and 67,800 mentions.
- Pepe (Portugal): 18.2 million followers, an increase of 409.4 thousand subscribers and 20,800 mentions.
- Theo Hernandez (France): 4.7 million followers, an increase of 98.3 thousand subscribers and 13,400 mentions.
- Dani Carvajal (Spain): 11.4 million followers, an increase of 257.3 thousand subscribers and 215,800 mentions.
Midfield player:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 634.7 million followers, an increase of 2.7 million subscribers and 809,400 mentions.
- Antoine Griezmann (France): 41.2 million followers, an increase of 101.8 thousand subscribers and 101,800 mentions.
- Jude Bellingham (England): 34.8 million followers, an increase of 1.8 million subscribers and 431,500 mentions.
- Toni Kroos (Germany): 48.6 million followers, an increase of 937.4 thousand subscribers and 307,200 mentions.
Striker:
- Alvaro Morata (Spain): 22.3 million followers, an increase of 138.8 thousand subscribers and 185,800 mentions.
- Kylian Mbappe (France): 119.8 million followers, an increase of 1.5 million subscribers and 112,100 mentions.
Presence of the European Championship influences social media
The data reveals how athletic performance and on-field presence can influence players’ digital reach and popularity. Fans around the world comment and interact online, which dramatically changes the perception of players during the tournament. Such data-based insights are also essential for influencer marketing, identifying and evaluating testimonials and activating communities. They also enable the development of content strategies that foster an emotional connection between brands and their target audience. Julian EiseleBusiness Director at 1000heads, says:
The European Championship has shown that football stars are no longer just advertising testimonials. Through major events such as the European Championship, they build their own fan communities and form their own brand on social media.
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Source: onlinemarketing.de
