NEW DELHI: Age is just a number. And who better proves it than football star Cristiano Ronaldo. The 39-year old Portugal star holds almost one a half dozen football records. But on Thursday, Ronaldo broke a different record, this time in the social media space.

His official YouTube account reached 10 million subscribers in 12 hours! Mr Beast, an American YouTuber, held the record before Cristiano Ronaldo. He had reached 10 million subscribers in 132 days!

Mr Beast, who has a total number of 311 million subscribers now in his channel, primarily hosts game shows that feature giveaways and challenges for participants.

As Ronaldo reaches the winter of his long football career, The Telegraph Online, does an analysis of how Ronaldo, CR7 to millions of his fans, dribbles around the digital content space.

Ronaldo breaks YouTube record for fastest growth

On August 21, 2024, the Portuguese football star launched his channel, UR Cristiano. The channel quickly drew global attention, which included a teaser trailer, a fun quiz with his partner Georgina Rodriguez, and a video of Ronaldo meeting his wax figure at the Madame Tussauds. Within 90 minutes of the launch, the channel amassed over 1 million subscribers, making it the fastest to reach 10 million subscribers in YouTube history.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s use of social media

Like many other celebrities, Ronaldo uses social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to expand his personal brand far beyond the football field. With hundreds of millions of followers, Ronaldo has more fans on social media than BBC, Fox News and The New York Times put together! He shares aspects of his life, from training routines and match highlights to personal moments and endorsements.

How Ronaldo shapes Athlete Branding through social media

Ronaldo’s approach to social media has redefined athlete branding by mixing athletic posts with lifestyle appeal. He not only highlights his achievements and fitness but also integrates his fashion line, CR7, and collaborations with high-profile brands into his online presence. Ronaldo’s posts show how strategic social media use can increase an athlete’s influence, create new revenue streams, and build a comprehensive personal brand that appeals to diverse audiences.

Ronaldo’s strategy to engage fans

He posts a variety of updates, including videos of him training or playing football, which cater to his sports fans. He also shares selfies, family moments, and luxury lifestyle shots. For example, a topless photo of Ronaldo next to a Bugatti and casual family pictures get significant attention from his followers, often surpassing the engagement of his sports-related posts.

Personal relationship with his fans

Cristiano Ronaldo’s social media accounts host live sessions, where he interacts with his followers. He addresses fan questions, discusses his career, and shares life updates. This real-time interaction allows fans to receive answers to their queries directly from him.

Ronaldo, the fake news warrior

Cristiano Ronaldo uses his social media accounts to pinpoint misinformation and educate his followers about fake news. Back in the year 2014, an interview of Ronaldo appeared in the British tabloid The Sun. The interview claimed Ronaldo made statements against his father. Ronaldo immediately took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify that the interview was ‘Pure Fiction’ and that he had not spoken to the publication.

Agencies

Agencies