Haaland Dominates Instagram Growth at 2026 World Cup
Spain may have lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy, but the biggest winner on Instagram was Norway striker Erling Haaland. He added a staggering 32.1 million followers during the 39‑day competition, according to figures released by Sportico.
Haaland’s on‑field performances fueled that rise. The 26‑year‑old scored seven goals, finishing joint third in the Golden Boot race alongside Jude Bellingham. He ended the tournament one goal behind Lionel Messi and two behind Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappé. His contributions also helped Norway reach the quarter‑finals, securing the nation’s first‑ever victory in a World Cup knockout match.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha claimed second place after becoming one of the tournament’s surprise success stories. His outstanding display against eventual champions Spain in the group stage earned him seven saves, the man of the match award, and a goalless draw for his side. Those heroics translated into 29.2 million new Instagram followers, with 14 million arriving within just four days of the Spain match.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham ranked third with 12 million new followers. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo came fourth with 11.4 million, while Spain youngster Lamine Yamal rounded out the top five with 11 million.
Despite his lower growth, Ronaldo remains the most‑followed athlete on Instagram, boasting more than 677 million followers. Messi sits second with over 514 million. Brazil’s Neymar, who could have played in his final World Cup, added 7.7 million followers for sixth place, narrowly ahead of Messi’s 7.5 million gain.
The remainder of the top ten featured Mexico’s 17‑year‑old midfielder Gilberto Mora with 6.6 million new followers, France winger Michael Olise with 5.7 million, and Brazil forward Endrick with 5.6 million.
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