Sport on Twitter in 2019: top tweets, trends, hashtags, people and events
Cristiano Ronaldo reigns as the most-followed sports star on Twitter
Sport and Twitter goes almost hand in hand. Fans watch the action live or on TV and then follow the trends and talking points via the social media platform.
The Fifa World Cup ruled Twitter in 2018, but in 2019 the Fifa Women’s World Cup, Cricket World Cup and Rugby World Cup took the spotlight.
Throw in some memorable Champions League knockout matches, huge boxing title bouts and various finals, and sport certainly dominated the trends in the past 12 months.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Here we look at the most talked about sports stars, teams and events in 2019.
Most followed sports accounts on Twitter
Cristiano Ronaldo’s @Cristiano profile remains the most followed sports account on Twitter. The Juventus and Portugal footballer has 81.5 million followers.
- @Cristiano - Cristiano Ronaldo (footballer): 81.5m
- @neymarjr - Neymar (footballer): 44.9m
- @KingJames - LeBron James (NBA): 44.2m
- @SportsCenter - SportsCenter (sports channel): 36m
- @espn - ESPN (sports channel): 34.6m
- @realmadrid - Real Madrid CF (football club): 33.4m
- @imVkohli - Virat Kohli (cricketer): 32.6m
- @FCBarcelona - FC Barcelona (football club): 31.4m
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Top teams, athletes and events worldwide
In its #ThisHappened round-up of 2019, Twitter explained the methodology used for its “top” listings. Twitter said: “Instead of ranking by overall tweet volume, we’re ranking by the number of people tweeting about each topic. We wanted to know what got the most people talking, not just what was the loudest.”
In terms of teams it was a Spanish football top two with Barcelona and Real Madrid, while for international sports competition hashtags the #UCL Uefa Champions League one was most discussed.
Fifa Women’s World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner Megan Rapinoe was the most talked about female athlete worldwide and PSG and Brazil football star Neymar was the most talked about male athlete.
Memorable sports tweets of 2019
We pick out some of our favourite sporting tweets from the past 12 months, plus one non-sport tweet featuring two footballers’ wives...
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Why ghost guns are so easy to make — and so dangerous
The Explainer Untraceable, DIY firearms are a growing public health and safety hazard
By David Faris Published
-
Premier League 2020-21 predictions and odds: champions, top four, relegation
The Week Recommends A look at what the football media has to say ahead of the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich: Alphonso Davies expects a ‘goalfest’
The Week Recommends Key talking points ahead of the Champions League final
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s ‘World Cup’: Pep Guardiola’s team bid for Champions League glory
The Week Recommends Sky Blues prepare for a potential three knockout games in eight days in Portugal
By Mike Starling Published
-
On the prowl for No.16: Tiger Woods is geared up for PGA Championship challenge
The Week Recommends First major of the year will be held behind closed doors at TPC Harding Park
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Players: a big opportunity awaits defending champion Rory McIlroy
The Week Recommends World No.1 golfer aims to become the first back-to-back winner of the PGA Tour’s flagship event
By The Week Staff Published
-
F1 Australian GP finally cancelled after McLaren withdraw
The Week Recommends McLaren team member tests positive for coronavirus
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Premier League: Man United maintain superiority over City
The Week Recommends Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's side have beaten City three times this season, and result leaves Liverpool close to title
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League last-16 predictions: will ties go ahead and who will qualify?
The Week Recommends Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea all require comebacks in the second legs
By The Week Staff Last updated