Can the World Cup's viral stars turn social media fame into fortunes?
They’re not Ronaldo or Messi, but they might be set for life after gaining millions of new followers.
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Notable Quotes
""It's viral - it goes up very fast and it goes down equally fast.""
— Mike Serazio , Academic
""Followers are a form of currency that matters now… more followers tends to translate into a higher income.""
— Brooke Duffy , Academic
""Your performance across the whole arc of the game doesn't matter as much as having a signature moment that'll play well, that'll reverberate in the viral confines of social media.""
— Mike Serazio , Academic
""You have a window there of attention.""
— Mike Serazio , Academic
""Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Mbappe, after they retire, they're still going to be able to do deals.""
— Mike Serazio , Academic
Key People
Digital and social media scholar at Cornell University.
US rugby player who gained popularity during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Boston College professor researching the intersection of media and sport.
New Zealand defender whose social media following skyrocketed during the World Cup.
Vozinha is a standout player known for their performance in football.
All Coverage
They’re not Ronaldo or Messi, but they might be set for life after gaining millions of new followers.
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