Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi lead Virat Kohli in list of most influential sportspersons in the world

As per HypeAuditor, Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli is only behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the list of most influential sportspersons in the world on Instagram. While Kohli is the most influential Asian athlete in the world, he is behind the Portuguese and Argentine footballing legends.

Ronaldo, Messi, and Kohli are all masters of their respective trades. They also boast massive followings on social media.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, is the most followed person on the platform with 584 million followers.

Lionel Messi also has a massive fan base with 463 million people following him on Instagram. He currently plays for Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, has 249 million Instagram followers. The 34-year-old cricketer represents the Indian National Cricket Team and Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challangers Bangalore.

When Virat Kohli picked between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

The debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is an eternal one. Even the top athletes in the world, including Virat Kohli, have had their say on the matter.

Kohli is a massive Ronaldo fan and has shown his support for the Portuguese striker on multiple occasions. In 2019, Kohli explained why he gives Ronaldo the edge over Messi. Speaking to The Times of India, he said (via Bleacher Report):

"Tough question. But I would say Cristiano is the most complete player that I have seen. Whether it's the left foot, right foot, speed or dribbling skills, he's amazing. I have not seen a better goalscorer."

Kohli added:

"He revolutionised the sport and everyone followed him. His place is special, but if I had to take only one in my team who will give energy and intensity, it's Cristiano."

Kohli further said:

"Messi is a freak, absolute natural talent, and his ability is second to none. For me, what stands out is the ability or the will to put in the effort in every single minute of the game. Ronaldo's drive separates him from everyone else. Playing at the top level, everyone has talent, but I don't think anyone has the will that he has."

Despite being a world renowned athlete himself, Kohli never tries to hide his admiration for Ronaldo. After Portugal's exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Kohli came out in Ronaldo's defense and dubbed him the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time.)