Social networks: FC Barcelona top the ranking of the most-followed European clubs on Facebook

FC Barcelona (Liga BBVA) top the ranking of the most-followed clubs on the social network Facebook in the five major European leagues (Ligue 1, Premier League, Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga), with 71.4m fans as of 05/08/2014. Real Madrid (Liga BBVA) and Manchester United (Premier League) are in second and third respectively, with 69m and 54.3m fans.

Paris Saint-Germain (11^th with 12.3m fans) and Olympique de Marseille (17^th with 3.5m fans) are the only two Ligue 1 teams to appear among the 20 most-followed clubs on Facebook. The average for a club belonging to the five major European leagues is 3.8m fans as of 05/08/2014. The Premier League clubs are the most followed on Facebook, with 8.3m fans on average. Ligue 1 clubs are in last, with 1.1m fans on average.

With a 41% increase (414,000 additional fans), AS Monaco (Ligue 1) are the European club whose fandom increased the most from July to August 2014. The club benefited from the exposure that four of its players received during the 2014 World Cup (from 12/06 to 13/07/2014, Brazil), including James Rodriguez (COL) who has since been…