Top 20 Athletics & Sports from Spain on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth

Last updated: April 01, 2026

Total Athletics & Sports Influencers in Spain

15,681

Expected Reach

694.6M

Total Followers

2.5B

Avg Engagement

6.34%

Audience Analysis

Gender Distribution

Female26%
Male74%

Age Distribution

25-3439.2%
18-2429.3%
35-4417.1%
13-176.0%

Top Countries

Spain30.0%
United States of America8.5%
Brazil6.2%
United Kingdom5.0%
Italy4.9%

Top Languages

es40.7%
en31.7%
pt7.4%

Top Cities

Madrid2.4%
Barcelona City1.7%
Barcelona1.3%
Madrid city0.9%
Valencia0.8%

Top 20 Creators

RankInfluencerLocationFollowersEngagementMonthly GrowthScore
1
Fede Valverde
@fedevalverde
Futbolista profesional del @realmadrid y @aufoficial 👟 @nikefootball
Spain
21.0M
Followers
6.99%
Engagement
+3.1%(+640.3K)
8.7
2
Raphinha
@raphinha
💭"Você sabe meu nome, mas não sabe minha história” @fcbarcelona @brasil 💍 @taia_belloli
Spain
18.5M
Followers
9.90%
Engagement
+3.0%(+534.5K)
8.1
3
Rodrygo Goes 👐🏾⚡️🇧🇷
@rodrygogoes
@realmadrid 🤍
Spain
23.4M
Followers
7.94%
Engagement
+1.7%(+386.8K)
7.5
4
Leo Messi
@leomessi
Bienvenidos a la cuenta oficial de Instagram de Leo Messi / Welcome to the official Leo Messi Instagram account
Barcelona, Spain
511.8M
Followers
1.58%
Engagement
+0.1%(+352.1K)
6.4
5
Ilkay Gündogan
@ilkayguendogan
💛❤️ @Galatasaray 👟 @Adidas Athlete
Manchester, Spain
9.7M
Followers
5.82%
Engagement
+3.5%(+333.2K)
7.7
6
Pedri González
@pedri
Jugador @fcbarcelona y @sefutbol Management: @leaderbrocksports | info@leaderbrock.com 📸🎥📥 @tqtkstudios
Barcelona City, Spain
21.6M
Followers
6.74%
Engagement
+1.5%(+319.2K)
8.5
7
Joan Garcia
@__joangarcia
@fcbarcelona
Spain
2.2M
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+15.0%(+293.1K)
8.3
8
Miguel Fernández
@miiguelfer
miiguelfercolab@gmail.com 📬 Cree en ti mismo y no tendrás límites 🤘🏽
Madrid, Spain
2.0M
Followers
N/A
Engagement
+16.9%(+290.8K)
5.3
9
Ilia Topuria
@iliatopuria
God first ✝️ El Matador Double UFC World Champion 🇪🇸 🇬🇪 Prove them wrong 🌹
Madrid city, Spain
11.7M
Followers
4.90%
Engagement
+2.4%(+279.9K)
4.5
10
Antonio Rüdiger
@toniruediger
Football player for @realmadrid & @DFB_Team 🇩🇪 || @UnderArmour Athlete ⚽️👟
Spain
13.3M
Followers
4.07%
Engagement
+1.8%(+229.9K)
7.0
11
Ibai
@ibaillanos
La Velada del Año VI: 25 de julio.
Spain
15.5M
Followers
12.29%
Engagement
+1.2%(+179.1K)
8.8
12
𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐠𝐡𝐣𝐢
@roony
CHRIST IS KING ✝︎ @fcbarcelona
Spain
2.6M
Followers
35.41%
Engagement
+7.3%(+176.2K)
9.8
13
Gonzalo García
@gonzalogarcia7_
Jugador del Real Madrid @adidasfootball
Madrid, Spain
1.3M
Followers
31.48%
Engagement
+15.0%(+175.3K)
10.0
14
Thibaut Courtois
@thibautcourtois
⚽️ Real Madrid C.F. 🇧🇪 @belgianreddevils 💙 @mishelgerzig 🏎️ @thibautracing 🦒
Madrid city, Spain
17.9M
Followers
4.33%
Engagement
+1.0%(+169.9K)
5.7
15
Álvaro Arbeloa
@arbeloa
No retreat. No surrender. That is Spartan law. 🛡
Spain
7.8M
Followers
4.55%
Engagement
+2.2%(+168.7K)
6.7
16
Nemanja Gudelj
@nemanjagudelj
@pumafootball @orangefit.nl @proteckthor @gudeljsportmanagement
Seville, Spain
3.2M
Followers
4.04%
Engagement
+5.5%(+165.7K)
4.1
17
Raúl Asencio
@asencio
@realmadrid
Madrid city, Spain
6.1M
Followers
7.68%
Engagement
+2.2%(+129.9K)
5.1
18
Fermín López Marín
@ferminlopez
@fcbarcelona x @underarmourfc
Barcelona City, Spain
5.1M
Followers
8.52%
Engagement
+2.5%(+124.3K)
6.9
19
Samuel Lino
@osamuellino
🙏🏽🤍 Jogador do @flamengo ❤️🖤
Madrid, Spain
897.4K
Followers
11.18%
Engagement
+15.8%(+122.6K)
8.7
20
ALEJANDRO BALDE
@alejandrobalde
GOD FIRST. 🐆
Barcelona City, Spain
7.3M
Followers
8.59%
Engagement
+1.5%(+111.7K)
7.7

About This Instagram Influencer Ranking

Discover the most influential creators in Spain with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Athletics & Sports content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2026.

Key Insights & Metrics

  • Combined Reach: 694.6M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
  • Total Audience: 2.5B followers collectively following these creators
  • Average Engagement Rate: 6.34% - significantly above industry average
  • Market Coverage: 15,681 total influencers analyzed in this category

Audience Demographics & Reach

The influencers in this ranking reach a diverse, global audience with primary concentrations in:

  • Top Markets: Spain, United States of America, Brazil
  • Gender Distribution: 26% Female, 74% Male
  • Primary Age Group: 25-34 years (39.2% of audience)
  • Languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese

Why This Ranking Matters

For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:

  • Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
  • Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
  • Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
  • Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
  • Analyzing competitive landscape in Athletics & Sports niche

For content creators, these insights help with:

  • Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
  • Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
  • Network building and collaboration opportunities
  • Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance

Methodology & Data Freshness

Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:

  • Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
  • Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
  • Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
  • Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
  • Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance

Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through April 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Spain on Instagram?

Fede Valverde (@fedevalverde) is, as of April 2026, the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Spain on Instagram, with +3.1% monthly growth (+640.3K followers).

How many followers did Fede Valverde (@fedevalverde) gain last month?

Fede Valverde (@fedevalverde) gained about 640.3K followers last month (+3.1%).

Who grew more: Fede Valverde (@fedevalverde) or Raphinha (@raphinha)?

Fede Valverde (@fedevalverde) grew more than Raphinha (@raphinha) (640.3K vs 534.5K).

How is Raphinha (@raphinha) performing right now?

Raphinha (@raphinha) is growing at +3.0% (+534.5K) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.1 and average engagement of 9.90%.

How is Rodrygo Goes 👐🏾⚡️🇧🇷 (@rodrygogoes) performing right now?

Rodrygo Goes 👐🏾⚡️🇧🇷 (@rodrygogoes) is growing at +1.7% (+386.8K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.5 and average engagement of 7.94%.

How is Leo Messi (@leomessi) performing right now?

Leo Messi (@leomessi) is growing at +0.1% (+352.1K) per month, with a Profile Score of 6.4 and average engagement of 1.58%.

How is Ilkay Gündogan (@ilkayguendogan) performing right now?

Ilkay Gündogan (@ilkayguendogan) is growing at +3.5% (+333.2K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.7 and average engagement of 5.82%.

Who had the higher percentage growth: Raphinha (@raphinha) or Rodrygo Goes 👐🏾⚡️🇧🇷 (@rodrygogoes)?

Raphinha (@raphinha) leads (3.0% vs Rodrygo Goes 👐🏾⚡️🇧🇷 (@rodrygogoes) 1.7%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Fede Valverde (@fedevalverde)?

Fede Valverde (@fedevalverde) gained about 640.3K followers last month (+3.1%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Raphinha (@raphinha)?

Raphinha (@raphinha) gained about 534.5K followers last month (+3.0%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Rodrygo Goes 👐🏾⚡️🇧🇷 (@rodrygogoes)?

Rodrygo Goes 👐🏾⚡️🇧🇷 (@rodrygogoes) gained about 386.8K followers last month (+1.7%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Leo Messi (@leomessi)?

Leo Messi (@leomessi) gained about 352.1K followers last month (+0.1%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Ilkay Gündogan (@ilkayguendogan)?

Ilkay Gündogan (@ilkayguendogan) gained about 333.2K followers last month (+3.5%).

Is Fede Valverde (@fedevalverde) still a relevant creator?

Yes — Fede Valverde (@fedevalverde) has a Profile Score of 8.7, average engagement of 6.99%, and +3.1% (+640.3K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.

What is a good engagement rate for Athletics & Sports in Spain?

The average engagement rate for this category is 6.34%. Generally, rates above 7.6% are considered excellent, while rates above 5.1% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.

How is the Profile Score calculated?

The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.

Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?

Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.

What does monthly growth percentage mean?

Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.

Why should I track influencers in Spain?

Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.

How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?

Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.

Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.