Lionel Messi (@leomessi)

Lionel Messi's Instagram following surged past 500 million after his 2022 World Cup triumph and Inter Miami move, making him the second-most-followed individual on the platform. His account blends football highlights with family moments, reflecting a warmth that rivals the flashier Ronaldo brand. Compared to Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano), Messi's follower count is 22% lower, but his posts achieve an average like rate of 4.2%, outperforming Ronaldo's 3.1% by 1.1 percentage points.