Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James to Virat Kohli – Here’s the list of Top 10 most followed athletes on Instagram

There are great players, there are legends, and then there are a few who become bigger than the game itself. Their following is immense and people often fight their hearts out defending them in an argument.

In the era of social media, the number of people following them on different platforms gives a nice glimpse into how popular they are. Not only for their followers, but their profiles also attract high-end sponsorship deals and endorsements.

Right from footballers, and basketball players to cricketers, the top 10 most followed sportsmen on the popular social media platform Instagram have got it all. Most recently, one of the most popular cricketers on the planet, Virat Kohli, went past Neymar Jr. in terms of Instagram followers.

Top 10 most followed athletes on Instagram

10. Ronaldinho (75 million+)

One of the biggest names in the world of football, Ronaldinho hasn’t been active as a player for quite some time now, however, the incredible following he still has is enough to prove what a star the Brazilian has been. After all, two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d’Or are not the easiest of the titles to achieve.

9. Karim Benzema (76 million+)

France and Real Madrid footballer Karim Benzema has risen to fame in recent times due to his on-field performances. This has also benefitted Benzema off the field, as the Real Madrid striker is among the most followed athletes on Instagram. Benzema boasts of a massive 77 million followers plus, on the photo-sharing app and is also the fifth most-followed footballer among the active ones.

8. David Beckham (87 million+)

Not only he is one of the greats of the game, but David Beckham also has the looks of a Greek God. Such has been his fan following around the world that it won’t be wrong for us to call him one of the most handsome footballers ever. In his illustrious career, Beckham played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, AC Milan, LA Galaxy, Paris Saint-Germain, and, of course, the England national team for which he achieved great laurels.

7. Kylian Mbappé (112 million+)

The Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kylian Mbappe is a name to reckon with in the world of football. The Frenchman is just 24 years of age and, at such a young age, the staggering following he has on social media doesn’t come as a surprise. Having made his professional debut back in 2015, Mbappe has been one of the top names in the world of football and it is reflected in his social media numbers.

6. LeBron James (159 million+)

Another legend who has been so dominant in his particular sport that it wouldn’t be entirely foolish to call him a superhuman from another planet.  Nicknamed “King James”, LeBron James is the only player in the history of the game to have won NBA championships with three franchises as NBA Finals MVP. Also, he is the most-followed basketball player on Instagram with 159+ million followers.

5. Neymar Jr (219 million+)

Another Brazilian on the list, Neymar, currently plies his trade in Paris Saint-Germain and has achieved a lot of success for the franchise. Making his professional debut at 17 years of age, Neymar has been named the South American Footballer of the Year on two occasions and also finished third for the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2015 for his incredible performances. Although Neymar’s Brazil could not go all the way at FIFA WC 2022, Neymar’s following on Instagram continues to soar.

4. Virat Kohli (266 million+)

Virat Kohli, the stylish cricketer from India is known for wearing his heart on his sleeve. One of the greatest batters in modern-day cricket, Virat has broken several records in all three formats of the game. Moreover, he has tons of brand endorsement deals in his kitty which also makes him one of the highest-earning cricketers in this day and age. Kohli has a massive following on social media including Instagram. The 34-year-old is the most followed Asian on Instagram.

3. Dwayne Johnson (397 million+)

Dwayne Johnson might have given up on his WWE career but he is still an influential personality for so many reasons. Famously known as “The Rock”, Johnson enjoys a massive following on social media as he is the third-most followed athlete on Instagram. Dwayne is on the verge of entering the 400 million club.

2. Lionel Messi (499 million+)

Seven Ballon d’Or awards, a record six European Golden Shoes, and being named in the Ballon d’Or Dream Team back in 2020, are a few of the achievements of Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi. Messi has not only scored the most number of goals in La Liga but also holds the record for most assists and hattricks in the tournament history. Also, having recently won the FIFA World Cup has helped the Argentine garner even more fans on Instagram as Messi boasts a massive 499 million followers.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (622 million+)

Kohli, Messi, LeBron, and others have a lot of catching up to do in order to reach the top as Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo comfortably sits in the number one position in the list with a whopping 622 million followers on Instagram. With 32 trophies, seven league titles, and five Ballon d’Or awards, Ronaldo is the most popular athlete in the world, if one goes by the number of followers he has on social media platforms.

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