Lionel Messi, the renowned 2022 World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient, has recently achieved a significant milestone in the realm of social media. Over the weekend, Messi's Instagram account amassed a staggering 500 million followers, solidifying his position as the third most-followed account on the platform, trailing only Instagram itself and his long-standing soccer rival.

Furthermore, Messi holds the distinction of having the most-followed Instagram account among individuals residing in the United States, courtesy of his association with Inter Miami's MLS soccer team. While Instagram's official account reigns supreme with 669 million followers, Cristiano Ronaldo currently holds the title of the most followed person on Instagram with 662 million followers, edging out Messi in this particular metric.

Despite this, Messi enthusiasts can take pride in another notable achievement: his post celebrating Argentina's World Cup victory in December 2022 stands as the most-liked post in Instagram history, garnering over 75.5 million likes. Surpassing the 500-million follower mark places Messi in an elite category of social media influencers.

Looking ahead, fans can catch Messi and Inter Miami in action during their upcoming match against L.A. Galaxy as part of the 2024 MLS season. The live stream of the game will be accessible through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, offering enthusiasts an opportunity to witness Messi's prowess on the field firsthand.

Which accounts have the highest number of followers on Instagram?

  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