World Football: Ranking the Game's Top 25 Players on Twitter
Welcome to the modern-day world of Twitter, Facebook, Windows Live and the Internet—the world in which the generations of tomorrow will spend every day of their lives.
And, already, it's a reality.
Twitter is viewed almost three billion times a day by a community of 106 million twitter accounts that send 55 million tweets a day—almost 640 a second.
Many of these accounts and tweets belong to the subject of football. Famous footballers regularly tweet, often to an audience of millions all around the world from Bombay to Barcelona.
Take England captain Rio Ferdinand, for example: the defender has over 530,000 followers and counting, but is still barely popular compared to Real Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, who have a whopping two million followers each.
But it's not just players who reap the benefits of Twitter. It's also fans, who are able to constantly interact with their favorite managers, players, directors, journalists and owners. Fans can also hear individual players' opinions rather than just hearing directly from the club manager or captain.
However, Twitter can certainly be a hassle for clubs when their players get the sudden urge to go and criticize their coaches, referees or club administrators. And yes, Ryan Babel, I'm talking about you.
Here are 25 of Football's Finest on Twitter, ranked by the amount they tweet and chosen by their reputation among the footballing community.
25. Xabi Alonso
1 of 25
Xabi Alonso is one of the many Real Madrid players who have joined Twitter in recent years.
The Spaniard often tweets about his side's preparation before games, as well as using applications to tell us where he is almost 24/7.
A couple months ago, Alonso would have been a lot further up this list but unfortunately in recent months he has stopped tweeting regularly.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 0.25
24. Diego Forlan
2 of 25
Uruguay and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan joins the list at No. 24.
Forlan has never been a huge tweeter but every now and then comes out with a special treat in Spanish for his 950,000 followers. The Uruguayan is also one of the footballers who often uses his account to promote his personal website.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 0.28
23. Andrés Iniesta
3 of 25
Andrés Iniesta is the first of a few Barcelona players on this list to join the Twitter community.
Iniesta tweets almost twice a week in Spanish to his 750,000 followers on the site. Like Forlan and Alonso, the Spaniard uses the tool very little but is still a hit.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 0.44
22. Darren Bent
4 of 25
Darren Bent is the first English tweeter to feature in the list so far.
The Villa striker has had an account for quite some time now but has never quite been able to tweet on a daily basis to his 90,000 followers—many of who he gained after his move from Sunderland to Aston Villa in January.
Stat Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 0.51
21. Sergio Aguero
5 of 25
With supreme skill and deft touch, Sergio Aguero is perhaps one of the finest young strikers of today. The Argentine joins our list at No. 21 for the odd tweet every few days about his family and his interaction with Atletico fans.
The striker has over 400,000 followers currently but will no doubt earn more as he grows out of the Atletico shirt and moves to the EPL.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 0.58
20. Giorgio Chiellini
6 of 25
Chiellini is not exactly the most famous of footballers on this list, but certainly gives the stars a run for their money on Twitter.
The Juventus man often posts updates after training in Turin and tells his fans where he's about to go and have post-training meals.
The Italian has just over 90,000 followers.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 0.69
19. Carles Puyol
7 of 25
Carles Puyol is another distinguished member of the Barcelona Twitter community.
The defender has almost 700,000 followers on the website and his daily tweets have character and personality, but thank God for Google Translate.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 0.98
18. Robin Van Persie
8 of 25
Robin van Persie is a relatively new member of the huge Twitter family, having joined in 2010.
The Dutchman usually posts his opinion on the Gunners' performances week in week out, and tweets positively.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 1.36
17. Sergio Ramos
9 of 25
Sergio Ramos is yet another Spaniard to join Twitter recently.
Ramos tweets on a daily basis to his 370, 000 followers but very rarely replies to their mentions. The defender also posts photos on Twitter, the latest being players and coaches out for dinner at a Madrid restaurant.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 1.53
16. Cristiano Ronaldo
10 of 25
Cristiano Ronaldo is perhaps the most popular player on Twitter, boasting almost 2 million followers.
The Portuguese winger uses the site to thank fans for their support and give updates on his fitness situation.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 1.86
15. Steven Pienaar
11 of 25
Former Everton and current Spurs attacking midfielder Pienaar joins the list at No. 15.
The South African tweets and interacts with fans and the media on a regular basis and his Twitter account proved very useful when he was about to move to Spurs in the January transfer window.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 1.9
14. Cesc Fàbregas
12 of 25
The Arsenal captain is perhaps the hardest-to-find player on Twitter, with several parody accounts popping up that we determined to be real.
His tweets provide insight into his life with the Gunners, and he recently commented about missing the League Cup final against Birmingham due to injury.
"Too long to captain a final for arsenal and i wont give up till the last second."
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 2.14
13. Gerard Piqué
13 of 25
At No. 13 is Spain and Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué.
Piqué is a regular user of Twitter on his travels, tweeting the views from his hotel and the restaurants the team visit to his 305,000 followers. Here's what he had to say about Ronaldo retiring (translated from Spanish).
"Ronaldo retired yesterday, the most spectacular player that impressed me! A great!"
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 2.16
12. Gregory Van Der Wiel
14 of 25
Ajax and Netherlands right back Gregory Van Der Wiel is the latest defender on the list.
He tweets very regularly and finds plenty of time to interact with fans and other players.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 2.18
11. Glen Johnson
15 of 25
England and Liverpool right back Glen Johnson is among the group of players who often use their Twitter accounts to sell for charity, or recommend charities to follow.
Glen also takes pleasure in re-tweeting birthday messages and various other things.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 2.21
10. Denilson
16 of 25
With just over 200,000 followers, Denilson is quickly becoming one of the most-followed players on Twitter.
Denilson tweets in Portuguese, finding time to talk to the media on the site.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 2.52
9. Ronaldinho
17 of 25
Ronaldinho is yet another Brazilian who uses Twitter.
It would be fair to say that following the attacker is not exactly the best thing you can do on Twitter, as he and his agent mostly use it to promote his website, http://www.ronaldinhogaucho.com, to his one million followers around the world.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 2.78
8. Dirk Kuyt
18 of 25
Dirk Kuyt is a relatively new member of the Twitter community and finds time to regularly tweet about the progress of himself and his Liverpool teammates.
The Dutch striker/winger also promotes his charity dinners and send positive tweets to his followers on the website.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 2.99
7. Kaka
19 of 25
Kaka is another member of the growing group of Real Madrid players who tweet. The Brazilian midfielder tweets at least three times a day but often those tweets have been those of his wife and agent.
In June 2010, Kaka found himself in strife after he tweeted "A cowardly coach always substitutes a player to try to divert attention from his own powerlessness," after he was replaced by Raul in the final minutes of Madrid's clash with Lyon in the Champions League Round of 16.
The tweet was later tracked to the iPhone of his wife, Carolina Celico, but she was quick to deny the claims.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 4.04 tweets
6. Luis Fabiano
20 of 25
Joining Ronaldinho is Brazil and Sevilla forward Luis Fabiano.
Fabiano is named Luis Fabuloso on the site, but don't worry, the account is real. The Brazilian is an active member of the Twitter community, responding to any replies he may get from fans.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 7.6 tweets
5. Jack Wilshere
21 of 25
Jack Wilshere is perhaps one of the most pleasurable people to follow on Twitter, as he truly gives his 274,000 followers an insight into what he's doing.
The Young Gun frequently posts updates like "Chilling out at home.....hotel later..going to watch England v France later! Come on England!"
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 7.85 tweets
4. Rio Ferdinand
22 of 25
A typical Rio Ferdinand tweet on a Saturday afternoon:
"Anyone else take a boom box on your holidays?! Me and my mates don't travel without one....tunes are part n parcel on a vacation!"
Ferdinand has over 500,000 followers on Twitter, who vary from angry Liverpool and Manchester City fans to Manchester United fans full of praise for the defender.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 9.84 tweets
3. Lucas Leiva
23 of 25
Lucas Leiva is one of the latest additions to the growing Liverpool twitter community, joining manager Kenny Dalglish, Dirk Kuyt and a few academy youngsters on the social media site.
The Brazilian uses his Twitter account to sell his shirts for charity, praise teammates after victories and interact with fans from his iPad.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 10.54
2. Landon Donovan
24 of 25
The only MLS player on this list is indeed LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan.
The American forward rarely tweets to his 300,000 fans, but re-tweets every day. Still, a great follow for those looking to fill their timelines.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 10.54
1. Ryan Babel
25 of 25
At No. 1 is Ryan Babel, former Liverpool misfit and current Hoffenheim winger. The Dutchman has made himself a bigger reputation on Twitter than he ever had on the football field.
His Twitter antics vary from slamming Rafael Benitez when he was not picked in the Starting XI and famously posting a photoshopped version of Howard Webb in a Manchester United jersey after the Reds were knocked out of the FA Cup to insulting fans when they criticize him.
The Dutchman clearly loves Twitter, and so do the fans when he truly voices his opinion rather than just keeping quiet like the typical modern-day footballer and manager.
Stats Corner:
Recent Updates (Per Day) 164.64
