This study examined the effects of national athletes followed on social media by middle school students who participate in sports on their citizenship attitudes. In this study, conducted with a phenomenological design, students who regularly participate in sports and use social media were selected as participants. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed through content analysis. The findings indicate that national athletes have a strong impact on students not only through their sporting achievements but also through their ethical values, social responsibilities, and posts that foster national awareness. Students perceive athletes as "hardworking," "characterful," and "country-loving" individuals and model these characteristics in their own lives. National holidays and social responsibility projects, in particular, reinforce students' feelings of "pride" and "national belonging." Consequently, national athletes' social media posts are an effective tool in developing young people's civic awareness and values, demonstrating the importance of conscious use of sports and social media in education.