World Cup 2014: Paul Pogba, Oscar and Italy win the most Twitter fans since the tournament began

France midfielder wins 505 per cent more followers since tournament began

Paul Pogba (centre) produced a man-of-the-match performance against Nigeria in the last 16 (AFP/Getty)

Paul Pogba is winning the race for Twitter fans gained during the World Cup with his account (@paulpogba) 505 per cent bigger than it was when the tournament kicked off.

The France midfielder has tweeted just 77 times but now has 849,000 followers – his series of, frankly bizarre, cartoons managed by his family have gained huge popularity, while his classy performances in the middle of midfield have won him admirers.

Second on the list is Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Oscar, one of seven players in the top 10. The Brazil squad have taken to Instagram at almost every opportunity during the World Cup, but it is Oscar who has risen 428 per cent to 858,000 followers.

The other Brazilians on the list are Paulinho, Bernard, Fernandinho, Luis Gustavo, Ramires and Willian, while Italian veteran Andrea Pirlo (332 per cent) and Maneul Neuer (179 per cent) make up the top 10.

England’s early exit saw only Raheem Sterling gain any notable following, up just 22 per cent.

For the national teams Italy led the top 10 with a huge 2,376 per cent increase, although their presence was tiny before and they have a following of just 163,000.

Roy Hodgson’s England added 240,000 new followers since the tournament began, and while that is only a 115 per cent increase, it positions England as having the sixth greatest following growth, up to 453,000.