Brazil's World Cup Consolation Prize: More Instagram Followers

Neymar of Brazil controls the ball during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Quarter Final match between Brazil and Colombia on July 4, 2014 in Fortaleza, Brazil. Photographer: Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images
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It may be a massive understatement to say that Brazilian soccer players are feeling pretty low after one of the country's biggest defeats ever in a World Cup match. Despite the 7-to-1 loss on their home soil yesterday, the Brazilians can consider themselves winners in terms of social-media star power.

Seven of the 10 most-followed World Cup players on Instagram hail from Brazil, led by the team's superstar forward Neymar with 8.8 million, according to Instagram data shared with Bloomberg. Neymar, who sat out yesterday's semifinal match against Germany due to an injury, also posted the top-three most-liked photos among World Cup athletes and gained the most followers during the month-long competition.