Virat Kohli Surpasses Neymar Jr To Become Second Most Followed Sportsperson On X
Despite his massive following, the 35-year-old cricketer still trails legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who boasts 111.4 million followers on the platform.
Former India captain Virat Kohli has become the second most followed sportsperson on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). On Wednesday, June 5, Kohli surpassed Brazilian football star Neymar Jr., who currently plays for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, reaching 63.5 million followers. Neymar now trails Kohli in the follower count on the platform.
PTI
Kohli, renowned for his fitness and celebrated across India, remains a favorite among fans of all ages. His match-winning performances for India across various formats have left an indelible mark on cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Despite his massive following, the 35-year-old cricketer still trails legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who boasts 111.4 million followers on the platform.
VIRAT KOHLI BECOMES THE 2ND MOST FOLLOWED ATHELETE ON TWITTER/X. ? pic.twitter.com/Jon8PIGhvL
¡ª Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 5, 2024
Elon Musk, the owner of X, holds the record for the most followers with 186.1 million. Former American President Barack Obama is second with 131.8 million followers, and Ronaldo ranks third among the most followed personalities on X.
Recently, former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor praised Kohli on the 120 Not Out podcast, calling him a "global superstar in the world of sports" and comparing his popularity to that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Taylor highlighted Kohli's charisma and marketability, noting that his appeal goes beyond cricket.
"Players are now endorsing products on social media. Who would have thought of that in 2008? Kohli, a cricket superstar, is also a global sports superstar. In terms of Instagram and social media presence, he's up there with Ronaldo and Messi!" Taylor remarked.
ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023 trophy ??
¡ª ICC (@ICC) June 3, 2024
ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year 2023 Cap ?
Virat Kohli ?? pic.twitter.com/tdTFMIOkjI
Taylor added, "Sportsmen are more accessible now, and their actions are more critiqued. Movie stars, Bollywood celebrities, and politicians are all under the microscope because of social media. But that's not necessarily a bad thing," acknowledging Kohli's widespread popularity.
In 2023, reports emerged that Kohli was charging INR 11.4 crores for a single promotional post on Instagram. This news quickly became a talking point. However, Kohli later clarified, "While I am grateful and indebted to all that I¡¯ve received in life, the news that has been making rounds about my social media earnings is not true," he wrote in a post on X.
Last year, Kohli was named among the top 100 highest-paid athletes in the world and was estimated to have a net worth of over Rs 1,000 crore, according to a list by Sportico.
Currently, Virat Kohli is with the Indian men's cricket team, participating in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Led by Rohit Sharma, India will start their campaign against Ireland on Wednesday. A highly anticipated clash with Pakistan will follow on Sunday.
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