Erling Haaland and Vozinha Top Instagram Follower Growth at 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup triggered a massive surge in Instagram followers for several players, with Erling Haaland and Cabo Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha leading in absolute and percentage growth, respectively. While Haaland added tens of millions, Vozinha’s follower count skyrocketed from near obscurity to millions, making him one of the tournament’s biggest viral stories.

Vozinha’s Explosive Growth

Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper for Cabo Verde, saw his Instagram followers jump from around 32,000–50,000 to approximately 29 million, a growth rate of over 91,000% Source: elnacionalveSource: elmundoesSource: portafolioco. Sportico noted that 'no player in the tournament came close to that growth rate' Source: elnacionalve. His performances helped Cabo Verde draw with Spain and push Argentina to extra time.

Haaland and Bellingham’s Gains

Erling Haaland, in his first World Cup, added between 20 and 32.1 million followers, according to various reports Source: elnacionalveSource: infobaeSource: portafolioco. Jude Bellingham gained about 12 million followers, with a 29% increase, and tied Haaland with seven goals Source: elnacionalve. Bellingham led England to third place.

Lamine Yamal’s Late Surge

Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old Spanish winger, dominated the final days of the tournament, adding nearly 4 million followers between July 16–20, the highest in that period Source: infobae. His total reached over 54 million. Infobae reported that his estimated earnings per sponsored post are $528,318.

Established Stars

Cristiano Ronaldo added 10–11.4 million followers, reaching a record 676 million total Source: portafoliocoSource: elnacionalve. Lionel Messi gained 5.6–7.5 million, and Neymar added 6.5–7.7 million Source: portafoliocoSource: elnacionalve.