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We live in the social media era and enjoy unprecedented access into the lives of our favorite public personalities. Celebrities and athletes are some of the most popular people on social media websites like Instagram and Twitter.
They are known all around the globe and millions are interested in knowing what their favorite personalities are up to. The number of followers an athlete has on Instagram is a fairly decent measure of their popularity.
Without further ado, let's take a look at 10 of the most followed footballers on Instagram.
#10 Mohamed Salah - 47.9 million followers
The 'Egyptian King' Mohamed Salah is one of the most adored footballers in the world. The 29 year old recently came close to clinching the AFCON 2021 with his national side but fell to Senegal in the final in a penalty shootout.
Salah is one of the most in-form footballers in the world right now and has by far been the best player in the Premier League this season.
#9 James Rodriguez - 48.6 million followers
James Rodriguez was the star of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Real Madrid immediately broke the bank to sign him from AS Monaco. Rodriguez was an instant hit at the Santiago Bernabeu and impressed in his first couple of seasons in Spain.
Blessed with movie star looks and an endearing personality, Rodriguez was an extremely marketable figure as well. That's why even though he currently plays for a lesser known Qatari club Al-Rayyan, he is still one of the most followed footballers on Instagram.
#8 Sergio Ramos - 49.4 million followers
The legendary Sergio Ramos has won nearly everything that is to be won in the world of football. He is an icon of the game and is a charismatic leader and belligerent defender. Ramos swapped Real Madrid for PSG last summer. He might have turned 35 but he is still going strong.
#7 Paul Pogba - 51.5 million
2018 FIFA World Cup winner Paul Pogba is one of the most naturally gifted footballers of his generation. His eye-catching displays teeming with tricks, flicks, trivelas and defence splitting passes have made him one of the most admired athletes on the planet.
Plus it always helps that he plays for Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world.
#6 Marcelo - 51.9 million followers
Marcelo might be well past his prime now but in his heydey, there was no better attacking full-back in the world. The Brazilian was blessed with incredible technique, agility and vision. His stint with Real Madrid has been extremely successful and he has become an iconic figure at the Santiago Bernabeu.
#5 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 52.1 million followers
Well, football's not like boxing or professional wrestling. Players mostly just walk the walk. But that's not a rule and there are plenty of exceptions with Zlatan Ibrahimovic being the most high-profile of all. He calls himself a lion and cuts promos that can put Chuck Norris jokes to shame.
We let him get away with it because Zlatan is Zlatan and he's 40 years old now but continues to be a phenomenal striker.
#4 Kylian Mbappe - 65.8 million followers
Kylian Mbappe is the crown prince of football. He is widely regarded as the heir apparent to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Mbappe is still only 23 years old but has already had an illustrious career. He is also one of the best forwards of the 21st century and is quite simply a phenomenal footballer.
#3 Neymar Jr. - 169.9 million followers
Neymar Jr. is one of the most recognizable faces in the world of football. He took the world by storm with his bag of tricks and incredible levels of creativity during his time with Brazilian club Santos.
Neymar then joined Barcelona, where he formed the deadliest attacking trio of the 21st century alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The Brazilian international, who turned 30 a few days ago, is currently at PSG. He is a perfect example of a player who is either adored or hated but never ignored.
#2 Lionel Messi - 306.3 million followers
With a record seven Ballons d'Ors in his kitty, Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of all time. He left his childhood club Barcelona last summer to join Paris Saint-Germain. It hasn't been smooth sailing for Messi so far in France but the kind of otherworldly qualities he has will shine through eventually.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - 400.5 million followers
Cristiano Ronaldo turned 37 a few days ago. But he is still one of the best strikers in the game. Ronaldo's career has always been about passion, grit and determination. He has worked hard for everything he has got and he is someone who will give his all to win.
Ronaldo is also extremely popular with kids and fans and he always takes time out to sign autographs or pose with photos whenever there is an opportunity. He has also been eminently marketable thanks to being consistently relevant throughout his career.
It has gone a long way towards making him the most followed person on Instagram.
