Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo during the match against West Ham United in Manchester, England, January 22, 2022.Social media is becoming an important tool for footballers and gives them a vast platform to interact with fans around the world.
In general, football players are increasingly addicted to Instagram and the world’s top players have built a following larger than the team they play for.
Here are the 10 most followed soccer players on Instagram, past and present.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
The Manchester United (MU) star reached a staggering 401 million followers, more than anyone in the world.
There was strong hype after his surprise return to Old Trafford in the summer, but United’s season has not gone well, despite Ronaldo scoring 14 goals.
2. Lionel Messi
Arguably the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, has 307 million followers. This number is higher than the population of many countries.
Messi had a difficult first season away from Barcelona following his surprise transfer to PSG in the summer of 2021, but he is rediscovering his form as he prepares to face nemesis Real Madrid in the round of 16. Champions League team.
3. Neymar
One of the best footballers of his generation and the most expensive footballer of all time, Neymar has become a household name worldwide since he burst onto the scene as a teenager. is a teenager. in Santos.
With a whopping 170 million followers, the Brazilian superstar is enjoying life at PSG, but he has also been injured in recent seasons.
4.David Beckham
England may never again have a famous player as influential as David Beckham.
Having played for some of the world’s biggest clubs, Beckham remains one of the biggest names in sport nearly nine years after his retirement from PSG and has 71.1 million followers.
5. Kylian Mbappé
One of the best young players ever, Mbappé has developed into one of the best players in the world at just 23 years old.
Moving to PSG for more than £120 million, there are rumors that the player with 66 million followers, Mbappé will join Real Madrid when his contract in Paris expires this summer.
6. Ronaldinho
Considered one of the greatest on-field artists of his playing days, the Brazilian is still enjoying the lifestyle that took away several years of his prime.
Ronaldinho has 63.4 million followers and considering the clubs he has played for, it is no surprise that he is one of the most popular players on the planet.
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
A striker who continues to defy his age, Ibrahimovic has 52.2 million followers and even though he’s 40 years old, he still can’t resist using Instagram to show off his abilities (and ego).
8. Sergio Ramos
The Real Madrid legend joined PSG in the summer of 2021 with 49.4 million followers but had a difficult first season in France, only appearing 5 times in all competitions.
9. Mohamed Salah
Salah has scored 23 goals and 9 assists in 27 games this season for The Reds, and is still at his peak with 48 million followers.
10. Gareth Bale
As a player often criticized by the Spanish press for lack of focus at Real Madrid, the Welsh superstar has 46 million followers and regularly posts content about him on… the golf course.
