Lionel Messi Becomes Second Person, After Cristiano Ronaldo, to Reach 500 Million Followers on Instagram

Lionel Messi has become the second person to reach 500 million followers on Instagram. The only individual with more followers is Cristiano Ronaldo with 622m.

Lionel Messi has become only the second person to reach 500 million followers on Instagram.

The 36-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami captain hit the landmark last week.

The only individual with more followers on the social media platform is fellow soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 622 million.

Instagram accounts with the most followers

1. Instagram: 669 million
2. Cristiano Ronaldo: 622 million
3. Lionel Messi: 500 million
4. Selena Gomez: 429 million
5. Kylie Jenner: 400 million
6. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson): 397 million
7. Ariana Grande: 380 million
8. Kim Kardashian: 364 million
9. Beyonce: 319 million
10. Khloe Kardashian: 310 million

Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Lionel Messi (left) are the two most followed people on Instagram :: IMAGO/Power Sport Images/Stringer

Although Ronaldo has more followers, Messi holds the world record for the most likes on a single post.

Messi's record-breaking post - which has been liked more than 75 million times to date - was uploaded after the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

It featured 10 photos of Argentina players celebrating and was accompanied by a 102-word caption, which began: "CAMPEONES DEL MUNDO!!!!!!!"