Footballers on Twitter: Ranking the Top 10 Tweeters in World Football
With the rapid growth of twitter over the last few years, we have also seen a rapid increase in the number of footballers expressing their opinions via this medium.
Some of them have been good tweets while others (not mentioning any names...yet) have been bad enough for significant fines from the footballing authorities.
Here is a look at the top 10 tweeters in World Football today.
10. Brad Guzan
1 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
So he's not always the most entertaining or the most fun, but Brad Guzan's tweets give an insight into the real life of a footballer.
Usually short, to the point tweets, Guzan updates his account regularly and proves that despite his wages, he lives an unusually normal life.
Example Tweet
"What an honor to meet Nelson Mandela, off to airport to go back to England. Another great trip to SA comes to an end!"
9. Bojan
2 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
First, you'll need a good translating programme or be able to speak Spanish, because to most people Bojan's account looks like jargon.
If that's no problem though, then Bojan's twitter account is a great way of getting an insight into what some have called the greatest club side ever. The young star likes to communicate with his team mates through the account and gives some goo updates on the state of the club and the Primera Division in general.
Example Tweet
"@3gerardpique @Carles5puyol me dais un toque? A ver si podemos devolverle esta cuenta a vuestro compi!"
...still no idea what it means, but it sure looks fun.
8. Jack Wilshere
3 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
Having just turned 19, Wilshere's account is very much a normal teenager's account. He does take advantage of the amount of follower's he has though, trying to give the fans as much back as possible.
Wilshere comes across as a very normal, down to earth teenage footballer and hopefully he'll remain that way right through his career.
Example Tweet
"BREAKING TRANSFER NEWS: I have just moved from the sofa to my bed!!"
7. Gregory Van Der Wiel
4 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
Not the most famous footballer on this list, but Van Der Wiel has had his own fair share of Twitter controversy. The Holland full back claimed that he could not play for Holland due to a concussion that he picked up during a domestic game with Ajax.
Only a matter of days later, a picture appeared on his Twitter account of Van Der Wiel with rapper Lil Wayne at one of his concerts despite the "concussion." The incident caused a lot of controversy if only for a short period of time.
Example Tweet
"Ajax = vandaag ghetto! Hahaha"
6. Cristiano Ronaldo
5 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
Football's very own pampered princess and the previous holder of the "biggest ego in football" award, Cristiano Ronaldo has his own Twitter account.
Surprisingly it's actually a lot more fan friendly than most people will have expected. Despite the Real Madrid star's public image, Ronaldo takes the time out of his daily schedule to answer fan questions on Twitter and give something back to those who have supported him.
Example Tweet
What do you need? Maybe I can help? RT@Jasmin_BH Doing a german report on @Cristiano wow i suck at sports ! :( cant think of anything."
5. Robbie Savage
6 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
Robbie Savage is the footballer people love to hate and the pundit people hate to love. The Welshman largely updates his account in the view of a pundit rather than a footballer, which many people will thank their lucky stars for.
As a pundit, Savage is largely loved and that's exactly why his Twitter account deserves following. Savage likes to have a laugh and get the fans really involved in everything.
Example Tweet
"Julio cesar has a snoode on his head with tassles on !!! Espn now"
4. Landon Donovan
7 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
Landon Donovan is the biggest football (or soccer if you will) star to come out of America since the 1950 World Cup team. He may not be the best player in the world, by a long way, but his Twitter still makes for an entertaining follow.
It's easy to see on his Twitter page just how much he is admired by not only his American fans, but also his fans from all over the world. Donovan is quickly becoming an American icon and his Twitter account is just a small way to be included in that.
Example Tweet
"Just watched a commercial that tried to convince me that high fructose corn syrup isn't bad for me Bahahahahahahahahahahah #nicetry"
3. Rio Ferdinand
8 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
Just a city boy, born and raised in...Peckham. Rio Ferdinand is largely considered a man of the people in England thanks to his upbringing (not to mention his publicising of the "Stay-cation" trend). His Twitter account is very much for his fans as well.
Rio likes to have some good-hearted banter with his footballing friends as well as give his own special brand of advice to his fans. The England defender also occasionally takes the time to answer the fan questions that he's been sent.
(And on the theme of songs, "his name is Rio and he dances on the sand.")
Example Tweet
"I was gonna go around to the rooms on the ward and help with breathing #silks and shout... AAAND PUUUUSH!!! Consultants denied my offer tho!" (After saying he was opening a hospital's new labour ward).
2. Darren Bent
9 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
One of the most famous Twitter users in England, who eventually decided to shut his account down much to the dismay of people wanting controversy.
The Aston Villa striker bought attention to his Twitter account when he was in the process of leaving Tottenham. The striker left a foul-mouthed rant at Daniel Levy, the Tottenham Chairman, telling him to "sort it out" with regards to his transfer.
Since then Bent's tweets were still entertaining despite being less controversial, but when Sunderland were sucked into a relegation fight a few years ago, Bent decided to focus on his football and close his Twitter account. He then opened up a new one soon after. Twitter addict.
Example Tweet
During his transfer saga: "Seriously getting p***** off now", followed by "Why can't anything be simple. It's so frustrating hanging round doing jack s***". Then finishing off with "Do I wanna go Hull City NO. Do I wanna go stoke NO do I wanna go sunderland YES so stop f****** around, Levy. Sunderland are not the problem in the slightest".
1. Ryan Babel
10 of 10
Why You Should Follow Him
Ryan Babel has quickly become one of the most popular twitter users following his antics on the site.
While his tweets aren't always entertaining and his account is now in German (following his move to Hoffenheim), there are some special tweets that do come out of his account.
Perhaps the most famous of these was his, albeit poorly, photoshopped picture of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt, posted after the Liverpool and United match. Babel was fined by the Premier League for his lack of respect to match officials.
Example Tweet
"I know i know, i tweet a lot.. so u unfollow me now.. and after 30 min u think * Nothing happens on my TL * " Let me follow him again "#gnr"
