Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the Portugal national team camp has sparked another major debate off the pitch, after the team’s official social media account was reportedly said to have lost millions of followers within a short period.
According to figures circulating online, the account had approximately 32.4 million followers before Ronaldo’s departure, before dropping to around 24.6 million — a difference of roughly 7.8 million followers.
But behind those numbers lies a bigger question: Were fans following Portugal for the team itself, or were they following Ronaldo?
Ronaldo is one of the most-followed people in the world on social media, giving his presence with the national team a significant impact on Portugal’s global visibility and digital reach.
However, these figures still require independent verification before concluding that Ronaldo’s departure directly caused the drop.
Changes in follower numbers can also result from fake-account removals, platform adjustments or other technical factors.
If the figures are confirmed, the episode could provide an interesting insight into Ronaldo’s power as a personal brand and the influence he can have on the national team even when he is away from the pitch.
