Among the many markets covered by bookmakers, making a soccer bet is probably the most popular. No wonder, as soccer – association football – is the most followed sport in the world today. But the sport itself is not the only thing “most followed” – soccer stars also get their fair share of spotlight in the media and on social media.
Surprising as it may sound, it’s not actors, pop stars or other famous individuals that are dominating the “top followed” lists on social media. The individual with the highest follower count is a soccer star.
Sergio Ramos
With 49.5 million Instagram followers, Sergio Ramos is always a fan favorite. After a run with Real Madrid, he went on to play for PSG. And during his time as team captain for the Whites, from 2015 to 2018, he won the UEFA Champions League.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
At 40 years old, Zlatan is among the oldest footballers on Instagram, however, this doesn’t deter his 52.4 million followers. His stellar football record indicates that he’s never lost any league championship games. And aside from the German league, he has played on every other football league. Having scored more than 500 goals, he is one of the top record setters in the sport. He joins the ranks of Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo in having scored points every minute of every game he’s played in. To top it off, he won the FIFA Puskas Award in 2013.
Kylian Mbappe
With 66.5 million Instagram followers, Kylian Mbappe has achieved massive success at a very young age. In 2015 he debuted on the Monaco team and went on to score a goal before even reaching his 18th birthday. The qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup marked the first time he scored a goal internationally. He went on to break the record for a hat trick, previously set in 1997 by Sonny Anderson.
Neymar
With 170 million Instagram followers, Neymar is worth more than any other football player in history. He was first thrust into the spotlight during his time with Santos FC. As a team member of the PSG, his popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Prior to playing for PSG, he joined Barcelona’s team, where during the 2014-215 season, he won the treble.
Lionel Messi
With 307 million Instagram followers, Lionel Messi far outranks Neymar in popularity. He spent 16 years with the Barcelona team before moving on to Paris Saint-Germain. Messi currently plays for PSG and is set to make his Champions League debut as a player on the Real Madrid team. Prior to that, he earned the title of FIFA’s Men’s Player of the Year in 2019.
Cristiano Ronaldo
With 403 million Instagram followers, Cristiano Rinaldo may be the highest profile footballer in the world. He is known for breaking many records within the sport. This includes scoring 109 goals in September 2021. As the most popular player on Manchester United, he is one of the few that shares sponsored posts on his Instagram account.
These footballers are among the best at their sport. Their popularity on Instagram is a testament to how much the fans admire and respect them. These athletes each excel at what they do both on and off the field. They embody the idea that athletes are very influential.
