# World Cup Players' Social Media Impact Jude Bellingham and other stars' growth on Instagram and TikTok. - **Source:** [Forbes - Business](https://brifing.si/source/e0310925-a7af-4d4b-80a7-c80d400e49fa) - **Published:** 2026-07-14 - **Topic:** [Marketing](https://brifing.si/c/marketing) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/7369c982-3c91-421c-bbfe-53988ea9a628 ## The Social Media Impact of the World Cup The FIFA World Cup drives significant growth in players' social media followers. Stars like Jude Bellingham have gained millions of new followers on Instagram and TikTok, showcasing the tournament's global reach and influence. ## Jude Bellingham's Rise England's young star Jude Bellingham saw a 15% increase in Instagram followers during the World Cup, adding over 6 million new fans. His performance on and off the field has made him a social media sensation. ## Other Stars' Performance Spain's Lamine Yamal gained an 8% follower increase, while Harry Kane saw a 7% rise. Lionel Messi, already a billionaire, added 6.1 million followers as Argentina aims to defend their title. ## TikTok Boom Searches for Jude Bellingham on TikTok surged 10x, while Harry Kane's searches jumped 136x. USMNT's Alex Freeman saw a 425% spike in Instagram followers, highlighting the platform's role in fan engagement. ## USMNT Players' Social Media Growth Folarin Balogun gained 620,000 new followers, and Christian Pulisic added 280,000. TikTok searches for these players also skyrocketed, reflecting their growing popularity among American fans. ## Sponsorship and Brand Value The World Cup amplifies athletes' brand value and sponsorship potential. Social media growth is now a key metric for future marketing deals, making platforms like Instagram and TikTok crucial for player branding. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjburns/2026/07/14/by-the-data-which-world-cup-players-are-winning-on-instagram-tiktok/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._