Football Benchmark platform has revealed the list of the top ten players with the highest growth in followers across social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Weibo) from December 13, 2024, to December 13, 2025.
The young Spanish star of Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, topped the list by a wide margin, achieving an absolute growth of 38.6 million new followers. The numbers weren't just about the total count; Yamal also recorded a staggering relative growth rate of +58%, reflecting his overwhelming popularity that exploded over the past year.
Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo came in second with a growth of 21.7 million followers. Although his relative growth rate was the lowest on the list (+3%), this is attributed to the massive fan base he already possesses.
Here is a review of the key figures included in the report:
- Pedri (Barcelona): Achieved the highest relative growth on the list at +78% (11.4 million new followers).
- Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid): Ranked fourth with a growth of 10.4 million followers.
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): Recorded an increase of 7.4 million followers.
- Raphinha (Barcelona): Saw a significant jump of +66% (6.5 million followers).
Argentine star Lionel Messi was also present, ranking seventh with an increase of 6.1 million followers. The list also included a duo from the English league and national team: Marcus Rashford with an increase of 5.5 million, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who closed the list with an increase of 4.6 million and a strong relative growth of +39%.
