5 footballers with the most Instagram followers right now

Footballers are some of the most recognizable athletes in the sporting world, as football is one of the most popular and widely played sports in the world.

With the advent of various social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, fans now have unfettered first-hand access and information about their favorite footballers. These platforms, in turn, also enable footballers to earn revenue by posting updates and tidbits about their daily lives.

As per a social media analytics firm, Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly earns a cool $1.6 million per Instagram post, which is $80,000 more than the second-most popular celebrity on social media, Dwayne Johnson.

So without further ado, let's have a look at the five footballers with the most followers on Instagram.

#5 Zlatan Ibrahimovich - 48.3 million

Zlatan Ibrahimovic may be almost 40, but he is one of the most popular footballers on Instagram.

The Sweden and AC Milan star has more Instagram followers than the likes of Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Paul Pogba.

Since his return to the Serie A in 2019-20 after eight years, Ibrahimovic has racked up 25 goals in the competition, helping Milan to sixth and second-placed finishes, respectively.

Ibrahimovic came out of international retirement earlier this year, but failed to make Sweden's team for Euro 2020 due to injury. In his absence, Sweden did well to top a group containing eventual semi-finalists Spain before going out to Ukraine in the Round of 16.

#4 Kylian Mbappe - 54.1 million

Kylian Mbappe endured a forgettable outing at Euro 2020. He failed to score a goal and missed his penalty in the Round-of-16 shootout against Switzerland, which sent world champions France tumbling out of the tournament.

Nevertheless, the 22-year-old happens to be one of the best young players in the game and has a sizeable presence on Instagram.

Mbappe has tallied more than a goal-contribution per game for PSG (132 goals and 61 assists in 171 games in all competitions). He has won four Ligue 1 titles, three of them with PSG.

The 22-year-old has also dazzled in French colors, becoming the first teenager since a certain Pele to score in a FIFA World Cup final. Mbappe scored in Les Bleus' 4-2 victory over Croatia in the title match of the 2018 edition of the competition.

#3 Neymar - 154 million

Brazilian superstar Neymar is one of the top players in the game and has a significant presence on Instagram.

The PSG winger has had an injury-riddled stint at the French giants, not managing more than 20 league games per season, during his four seasons to date. But Neymar has still managed to score 87 goals and provide 52 assists in over 100 games in all competitions for PSG to date.

Neymar failed in his quest to win a first major trophy with Brazil as the Selecao fell to Argentina in the Copa America 2021 final. He commands one of the highest wage bills of any player in the game, reportedly taking home close to €600,000 a week.

Apart from his gargantuan wage, the 29-year-old also earns a cool $824,000 per Instagram post, thanks to his immense marketability and popularity.

#2 Lionel Messi - 232 million

Arguably one of the best players to have graced the game, Lionel Messi has one of the most stellar resumes in club and international football. He is immensely adored around the globe, as is evident in his tally of over 230 million Instagram followers.

A bonafide one-club man, Messi is currently a free agent after his contract with Barcelona ran out this summer. The Argentine, who is likely to re-sign with the Blaugrana, has racked up a staggering almost 1000 goal contributions (672 goals and 305 assists) in 778 games in all competitions for the club.

After winning two continental trebles with Barcelona, Messi, who earns about $1.16 million per Instagram post, now has an international title too. The 34-year-old recently led from the front in the Albiceleste's triumphant Copa America 2021 campaign, scoring four goals and providing five assists.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - 314 million

Cristiano Ronaldo, like Messi, is one of the best players to have played the game and has an enviable presence on Instagram.

The 36-year-old has scored goals and won trophies galore for club and country over the years. During a highly successful nine-season stint at Real Madrid, Ronaldo racked up a staggering tally of 450 goals in all competitions, winning two league and four Champions League titles.

Now at Juventus, the 36-year-old is the first Bianconeri player to amass 100 goals in his first three seasons at the Italian giants. Ronaldo has also been a stellar performer for Portugal.

At Euro 2020, the Euro 2016 winner scored a tournament-leading five goals to go level with Ali Daei for most goals by a player in international football. Both men have scored 109 international goals for their respective countries, though Ronaldo is expected to surpass the record and eventually hold it outright.

Edited by Rohit Mishra