Biggest star of World Cup |getting kicked around a lot

“LOVE ME or lose me! Follow me!” the ball says. It’s not just any ball, but the official match ball of the 2014 World Cup. But still, it’s not every day you hear balls “talking”.
It’s name is Brazuca aka @brazuca and, not only can it speak for itself, it has a Twitter account – and 1.8 million followers. How many do you have? That ball is more popular than you are! It even got its name by popular vote.
Brazuca tweets with fans in English and Portuguese before, during and after the matches. Prior to the tournament it travelled the world with some of the top players, visiting the 10 countries being tested and making pals with 600 professional footballers. In April Real Madrid star Gareth Bale tweeted to Brazuca, “Thank you for your cooperation last night! Nice working with you.”
Yes, Bale talked to the ball. And the ball talked back: “Same to you, Gareth. I just did what your feet told me to do.”
Brazuca’s silly but undeniable charm comes from the fact that you’re getting a “ball’s-eye view” of the action and the excitement. Just before the tourney opened it tweeted, “20 days until #Worldcup. I’m guaranteed to score the winning goal or a penalty in the final. A good feeling!” On opening day: “Here we go! I’ve been waiting for this since I was the size of a golf ball!”
German player Lukas Podolski tweeted @Brazuca with congratulations when it gained its millionth follower. “Thanks @Podolski10! I’ll see you at #GER vs #POR. Don’t go easy on me just because we’re friends – I want to feel that left foot!”
After the first match between host Brazil and Croatia, the ball was delighted with its own performance. “Four goals on my #WorldCup debut! I’ve worked hard for this, though. I suppose I should give credit to #BRA and #CRO.” Then there was disappointment over a red card displayed during Spain-versus-Portugal. “I hate red cards! It just means there are fewer feet to kick me!” That tweet was re-tweeted 3,000 time and “favourited” by another 3,000 people.
When Germany’s Thomas Muller earned the first hat-trick of the tournament during that same match, the ball remarked in alarmingly human fashion, “I guess this means Thomas Muller is taking me home tonight.”
Brazuca keeps getting more fans because it so accurately echoes their feelings and their hopes to see goals galore and nothing but exciting matches. After Nigeria and Iran faced off but came up scoreless: “My first 0-0. It feels weird, like I’ve been turned away from a club.” Yesterday morning there was cheerier acknowledgement after the Russia-versus-South Korea match that every team had now seen action. “It’s everything I dreamed of in my lab and more,” said the ball, meanwhile posting a selfie with some of the star players.
Its most popular picture so far, though, has been the one showing it perched on top of Argentina star Lionel Messi’s head. “The world’s watching Messi, but he only has eyes for me!” said the ball, to a fast 4,000 “favourites”. Bring it on, @Brazuca!