Social media has completely changed the way people connect and communicate in the modern digital era. With billions of active users worldwide, Instagram stands out among the many platforms that rule the internet space as a highly popular and influential platform. In this article, we’ll discuss the most-followed athletes on Instagram in 2024.
Most Followed Athletes On Instagram In 2024
There are billions of sports enthusiasts worldwide, and since more than one billion of us use Instagram regularly, there is a great chance for fans to interact with their favorite players.
In addition, Instagram helps athletes raise money, and PledgeSports helps them enhance their web presence and seek sponsorships and endorsements. The group of athletes below is unmatched by any other athlete in terms of social media activity. Please take note that this list only consists of retired or active professional athletes; it does not include former athletes who have gone on to become movie stars.
In response to a frequently asked question, Christiano Ronaldo has the most Instagram followers. The other famous people that comprise the top ten globally following Instagram accounts are as follows:
10. Ronaldinho (Ronaldo de Assis Moreira)
75+ million football fans follow Ronaldinho on Instagram.
Former Brazilian professional football player Ronaldinho rose to fame with his elegant style of acrobatic football play, particularly during his time with Milan and Barcelona. He is regarded as one of the all-time greats in soccer, continues to be one of the most followed athletes worldwide on Instagram, and is among the top 10 on TikTok.
Top brands like Nike, Lenovo, Hyundai, Pepsi, Protobar (energy snack bar), Mybet88 Asia, Freestyle Football Federation, Teqball Football Federation, Barcelona FC, Paralympic Games, Nutrilite (supplements and vitamins), Danet (yogurt), and others have used Ronaldinho as a model and ambassador.
9. Most Followed Athletes On Instagram In 2024: Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema had 76 million+ Instagram followers who are football lovers.
Most recent update: Karim Benzema’s Instagram account was shut down on December 27, 2023, hours after Al-Ittihad lost 5-2 to Al Nassr FC, the team captained by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Karim Benzema is a French professional football striker who spent many years under Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid F.C. However, once Ronaldo left the squad, Karim Benzema rose to prominence and was regarded as one of the top attackers of the past ten years.
October 2022 saw Benzema’s Ballon d’Or acquisition.
Karim is a striker with Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League at the moment.
The striker supports a number of brands, including Adidas, Hyundai, EA Sports, Bwin, and French businesses like SFR (Société française du radiotéléphone) and LCL (Le Crédit Lyonnais).
8. David Beckham
David Beckham is followed on Instagram by almost 86 million football fans. One of the football players with the most Instagram followers is David Beckham. He is also one of the most popular British celebrities.
Goals scored by Beckham will always be seen and remembered while he was a player for Manchester United FC.
Football fans like watching his “shirt off” workout videos on Instagram and his management actions at Inter Miami.
With companies including Sky Sports, H&M, Visit California, Burger King, Pepsi, Jaguar, Adidas, EA Sports, Sharpie (markers), Motorola, Vodafone, ESPN, Homme (perfume), Coty, Sainsbury’s, Samsung, and his newest partner, Breitling, among others, Beckham has worked on numerous advertising and marketing initiatives.
7. Most Followed Athletes On Instagram In 2024: Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé has 111 million+ Instagram followers who are football lovers. The incredible French youngster, Kylian Mbappé, won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018 while playing for the French national team.
Along with Erling Haaland of Norway, Kylian Mbappé is regarded as one of the world’s most gifted football strikers.
Mbappé rose to fame at Monaco F.C. thanks to his incredible goals. Kylian is a striker for Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG) at the moment.
In addition to being one of the fastest and smartest goal scorers in the world, Kylian is one of the most popular football players on Instagram.
Kylian has already appeared in marketing and advertising campaigns for several well-known companies, such as Hublot watches, Bulk Homme (a Japanese skincare brand), Electronic Arts (a video game company), Good Goût (a French organic baby and children’s food brand), Sony Playstation, Nike Football & Jordan brands, FIFA (football), and others.
6. LeBron James (@kingjames)
NBA player LeBron James is followed by more than 159 million basketball followers on Instagram.
Did you ever think anyone would ever reach Michael Jordan’s caliber of play?
LeBron has undoubtedly amazed everyone in the basketball world.
Top companies worldwide, such as Nike, TNT, Samsung, Powerade, GMC Hummer (SUV automobile), and Ladder (health & wellness company), have used LeBron James’ visage.
It is shameful, though, that he has assisted in promoting unhealthy brands like McDonald’s and Sprite. LeBron James co-own American Blaze Pizza franchises.
5. Neymar jr (@neymarjr)
Neymar Jr., a top football player from Brazil, is followed by over 218 million football followers on Instagram.
Is Neymar Jr. a top model of luxury high fashion? A famous rapper, a singer, or a top-tier football player?
A little bit of everything: Neymar has been portrayed by the media as the “always crying” diva, but he has undoubtedly proven to the world that he is a skilled football player. Messi, Suarez, and Neymar of Barcelona F.C. will go down in football history as one of the most lethal forward trios ever.
Currently serving as a striker for Al Hilal of the Saudi Pro League, Neymar Jr. spent four seasons with Barcelona F.C. and six with PSG.
Fans of Neymar adore seeing his antics, fashion sense, football goals, and enjoyable moments. He has represented Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and Barcelona F.C., two Brazilian football teams.
Neymar is among the top 10 football players worldwide in terms of TikTok followers as well as Instagram followers.
Neymar has worked with prestigious brands all over the world. Neymar has collaborated on some of the most well-known sponsorship projects and endorsements with brands including Nike, Puma, and Epic Games—the company behind the well-known video game Fortnite.
4. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has over 265 million Instagram followers among cricket lovers.
Billionaires all around the world love Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket god. Together with Puma, Pepsi, OPPO (cell phones), Colgate, Blue Star (air conditioners), Too Yumm, Xiaomi India, Samsonite’s American Tourister India, Shyam Steel, Great Learning, Iqoo Smartphones, Lafarge, Max Life Insurance, Vizecare, Google, Hero, Vicks, and other brands, Virat has worked on television commercials and advertising campaigns.
3. Dwayne Douglas Johnson (The Rock)
Dwayne Douglas Johnson, often known as The Rock, has 394 million+ wrestling fans on Instagram. Samoan descent, Dwayne Douglas Johnson (The Rock) is a Californian celebrity who has done it all.
Every field that The Rock works in, including acting, film production, American football, and wrestling, is successful.
It’s entertaining and enjoyable to follow Dwayne Johnson on Instagram.
The Rock has appeared in international advertising campaigns for companies like Under Armour and others. Among the companies that this well-known American athlete supports are Teremana Tequila, Under Armour, Salt & Straw, Seven Bucks Productions, and Zoa Energy.
2. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has 497 million+ Instagram followers who are football lovers. (often referred to as “la pulga,” which means “little flea”).
After completing his training at Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, Leo Messi is a football player for Inter Miami.
Leo Messi has won numerous awards, including the most recent 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the 2021 Copa America in Brazil, and his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023. He has also won other accolades for his inventive ball-dribbling techniques and game knowledge.
His heyday at Barcelona FC, while Pep Guardiola was manager, perfectly summed up his status as the GOAT (greatest of all time).
Messi’s t-shirt broke sales records for his new team on his first day at PSG in 2021, demonstrating his strength as a brand.
Diego Armando Maradona, the legendary and contentious football player from Argentina, has once said,
“The ball stays glued to his foot. I’ve seen great players in my career, but I’ve never seen anyone with Messi’s ball control.“
After he emerged victorious from the 2022 World Cup, the discussion over who is the greatest of all time—Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo—has come to an end. Regretfully, the goat controversy won’t generate millions of comments from ardent followers on social networking sites.
Many experts in professional football feel that Cristiano Ronaldo still holds a record that might surpass Leo Messi: Cristiano has scored a lot more title-winning goals or critical goals.
Leo Messi, one of the most popular football players on Instagram, regrettably works with unhealthy companies like the video game companies that drive kids crazy with consoles (PUBG, Call of Duty Warzone 2, Modern Warfare 2, Sorare), Pepsi, Gatorade (sugary drinks), Lays (chips), and Budweiser (alcohol beverage).
The sports world and football fans worldwide responded enthusiastically to Messi and Ronaldo’s announcements about their new football clubs on Instagram and Twitter. It was evident that Messi’s transfer to PSG received fewer likes on Instagram and Twitter than Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has over 617 million Instagram followers who are football lovers.
Cristiano Ronaldo, with more than 617 million followers on Instagram, is the most well-known player in sports. Madeira Island is the birthplace of Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo.
With a record eighteen nominations and five wins, Cristiano Ronaldo is the reigning champion of the Ballon d’Or.
Recognizing the potential of celebrity branding, Cristiano Ronaldo has developed numerous profitable enterprises, including hotels (Pestana CR7), fragrances (CR7), gyms (CR7 Crunch fitness), health and fitness apps (7egent), eyewear, lingerie, shoes (footwear), and fashion.
Cristiano has worked on international marketing campaigns and served as a model for several companies, such as Nike, Samsonite’s American Tourister brand, Insparya (haircare), Kickoff by Zuju, Herbalife Nutrition, SixPad (fitness gear), Free Fire (gaming app), LiveScore, and Dazn (sports app).
Additionally, Cristiano Ronaldo has a reputation for stirring up controversy, particularly when he claims in public that Manchester United has abandoned him or that he is a superior player to Lionel Messi.
In December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo re-signed with Al Nassr F.C., a Riyadh-based Saudi Arabian football team, following a contentious second spell at Manchester United and an incredible tenure at Real Madrid and Juventus.
In football history, some of the deadliest tackles have been applied to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Most Followed Athletes On Instagram In 2024: CONCLUSION
Due to their frequent emotional connections, several of the top 10 most well-liked sports athletes on Instagram have a sizable and devoted fan base.
Because of their athletic prowess and accomplishments, these sports celebrities are looked up to as role models.
