Lionel Messi beats 500 million followers on Instagram, joins Elite Club
Inter Miami’s iconic forward, Lionel Messi, achieves a historic milestone, emerging as only the second individual to amass a staggering 500 million followers on Instagram as of Sunday, February 25, 2024.
This remarkable feat cements Messi’s status as the second most followed person on the platform, trailing closely behind his perennial rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who boasts an immense 622 million followers.
With only Instagram itself boasting more followers than the 39-year-old Ronaldo, there’s a possibility that the Portuguese football legend could soon surpass the platform’s own follower count.
Messi’s meteoric rise to the 500 million milestone surged following his departure from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint Germain in 2021, further propelled by his pivotal role in leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar.
The Argentine maestro’s Instagram following continued to swell following his move to Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer, with his captivating performances since August 2023 adding millions more to his legion of followers.
Presently, Messi and Ronaldo stand as the only active sports personalities within the top ten list of the most followed individuals on Instagram, a testament to their global influence and appeal.
According to insights from the brand data platform KORE, a remarkable 20 percent of Instagram’s 2.5 billion monthly active users now follow Lionel Messi, who holds the distinction of having the most liked post on the platform. Notably, his celebratory post from the 2022 FIFA World Cup garnered over 75.5 million likes, setting a record that stands to date.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten most followed individuals on Instagram as of Sunday, February 25, 2024:
1 Instagram: 669 million
2 Cristiano Ronaldo: 662 million
3 Lionel Messi: 500 million
4 Selena Gomez: 429 million
5 Kylie Jenner: 400 million
6 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: 397 million
7 Ariana Grande: 380 million
8 Kim Kardashian: 364 million
9 Beyoncé: 320 million
10 Khloe Kardashian: 310 million
Messi’s unprecedented social media milestone underscores his global stature as one of the most renowned and influential figures in contemporary sports and pop culture.
