The World Cup’s top social moments

The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ will be remembered for the defining moments. Germany ultimately claiming the trophy that had eluded them since 1990, hosts Brazil crashing out to the eventual champions in unprecedented fashion, and Spain’s golden era coming to a humbling conclusion.

According to FIFA.com,The significant moments of the World Cup do not end on the pitch. With the rise and ubiquity of social media, these landmark occasions of the beautiful game are processed by millions of football fans and players themselves around the world through social media platforms. When USA goalkeeper Tim Howard makes 16 saves in a match, the world reacts. When Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal introduces goalkeeper Tim Krul in the last minute of extra time in an unforgettable moment of strategy and mind games, there is unparalleled social chatter.

With the immediacy of social media, most notably Twitter, some of the stand-out moments of Brazil 2014 occurred. The micro-blogging platform itself saw records broken; 672m tweets were sent about the World Cup and an extraordinary 618,725 tweets per minute (TPM) were sent after Germany claimed the trophy and 35.6m tweets (a record for a single sporting event) were posted during the eventual champions’ stunning 7-1 semi-final victory over the hosts. FIFA.com takes a look at some of the most notable and outstanding moments on social media from the tournament.

David Luiz & James Rodriguez, 4 July

There were touching scenes on the final whistle of the quarter-final between Brazil and Colombia as a heartbroken James Rodriguez wept and was consoled by Seleção No4 David Luiz. The images sparked a warm response on social media, with Luiz himself posting on Twitter and Instagram: ‘Você é um campeão hermano’ (‘You are a champion brother).

TimCahilling during Brazil 1-7 Germany, 8 July

The world watched in shock and awe as Germany destroyed the hosts in a devastating first half. A new Twitter record was set for a single event as 35.6m tweets were posted during the game and a new TPM record was also set during that game (580,166, a record broken five days later) when Sami Khedira scored the fifth German goal.

M.D.