Ronaldo, Neymar and 5 other footballers who lost Twitter verification badges

Elon Musk's new policy has seen some of the world's most prominent football stars lose their legacy Blue checkmarks on Twitter.

A host of superstar names in football have lost their legacy Blue checkmarks on popular social networking platform Twitter.

Twitter, which is owned by American Billionaire Elon Musk, had made the announcement a few months ago that ‘legacy’ verification ticks would be disappearing.

The news which had since been met with criticism from tweeps also revealed that users could still maintain their blue ticks for a fee.

However, from Thursday, April 20, those ticks started being stripped from a variety of accounts including some of the most popular celebrities in the world.

Amongst those hit were a vast array of prominent football stars including Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris Saint Germain’s Neymar.

Ronaldo is currently the most followed footballer on Twitter, while Neymar is the most followed Brazilian celebrity on the social networking platform.

In this article, Pulse Sports reviews 7 footballers who lost their Blue ticks amid Twitter’s new regulations.

Ronaldo, Neymar and 5 footballers who lost their Twitter blue ticks in 2023

7. Andres Iniesta - 25.4 million followers

Even though Andres Iniesta has abandoned European football for five years, the veteran playmaking maestro still retains his fan following on social media. 

The Barcelona legend has already had an accomplished career in football, winning nearly every single trophy at club and international level.

Iniesta became immortalized after he scored the winning goal to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup for Spain. 

Playing his fourth consecutive season for Vissel Kobe, the 38-year-old Spanish maestro has adapted well in Japan’s J1 League.

Iniesta is the fourth most followed footballer on Twitter, having joined the platform in November 2009, while with Barcelona.

However, the Blaugarana legend saw his verification check mark revoked following Twitter’s new policy.

6. Kaka - 29.4 million followers 

As of April 2023, Ricardo Kaka is the third most followed footballer on Twitter.

The 40-year-old former Ballon d’Or winner is an icon in Brazilian football and the second most-followed Brazilian footballer on the platform after Neymar.

Kaka who is currently retired joined Twitter in July 2009 following his arrival at Real Madrid.

The playmaking maestro has been active on Twitter for over a decade but also saw his Blue tick revoked following the new policy by Elon Musk.

He remains verified on Facebook and Instagram.

5. Erling Haaland - 4.6 million followers

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is enduring a one-of-a-kind debut season.

Haaland has shattered all sorts of goalscoring records since his arrival at the Etihad in the summer of 2022.

As of April 2023, the 22-year-old prolific Norwegian is the most-followed active Man City player on Twitter.

Haaland joined Twitter in October 2013, way before he became a football superstar.

However, his exploits on the pitch have seen him amass millions of followers from across the world on his Twitter page.

Even though he is also very active on the platform as well, his verification badge was also revoked in light of Twitter’s new policy.

4. Kylian Mbappe - 12.2 million followers

Paris Saint Germain vice-captain and France captain Kylian Mbappe saw his verification chalked off as well.

Mbappe joined Twitter in September 2013 while still in Monaco.

The 24-year-old has gone ahead to amass over 12 million followers on the social networking platform.

Mbappe is the third-most followed PSG player on Twitter after Sergio Ramos and Neymar.

He is also the highest-paid player at the Parisian club as per figures from Capology as well as the fourth-most followed footballer on Instagram, where he still maintains his Blue tick.

3. Mohamed Salah - 12.8 million followers

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah also joins the list of prominent footballers who lost their Blue tick on Twitter.

Salah is the highest-paid player at Liverpool, the most-followed Premier League player on Instagram, the most followed African footballer on Instagram and the most-followed African footballer on Twitter.

Salah joined Twitter in March 2014 following his arrival at Chelsea.

However, the 30-year-old Egyptian has gone ahead to achieve greater things since his exit from the West London club.

Salah currently has over 12 million followers on Twitter and is one of the most influential African footballers on the planet.

His official accounts on Facebook and Instagram still remain verified, however.

2. Neymar - 62 million followers

Paris Saint Germain star Neymar is currently the second most-followed footballer on Twitter.

The 31-year-old Brazil international also saw his badge removed even with his  62 million followers, having joined the platform in June 2010.

Neymar who recently announced that he is expecting a baby with his girlfriend Bruna Biancardi is one of the most popular and most active footballers in the social media space.

He is one of the richest footballers in the world and the third most-followed footballer on Instagram as of April 2023.

Neymar still maintains his verification badges on Facebook and Instagram also.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo - 108.3 million followers

As of April 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed footballer on Twitter in the world.

The 38-year-old Portuguese skipper boasts well over 108 million followers on the American-owned social networking platform.

Ronaldo joined Twitter in June 2010 and it’s no surprise how the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has managed to amass over 100 million followers on the app, having recorded numerous successes in his legendary career.

Like Twitter, Ronaldo is also the most-followed footballer on Instagram with more than half a billion fans following the Portugal skipper on the social media platform.

However, Ronaldo who is one of the richest footballers in the world was also among the famous global celebrities to lose their verification on Twitter, courtesy of Elon Musk’s new policy.

Although, the 5-time Champions League winner and father of five still maintains his verified badge on both his Facebook and Instagram accounts.