Football is one of the most played sports in the world, and footballers are undoubtedly amongst the most-famous sportsmen worldwide.
The players have gathered a large fanbase with their talent and level of success, and are even idolized by some fans.
Instagram is a great platform to see or view behind the scenes or backstage stories of our favorite footballers, and we look at the top 10 most followed footballers in the world.
Below are the top 10 most followed football players on Instagram.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo: 236 Million Followers
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous footballers in football history. He has won 5 Ballon d’Or trophies, one of the most prestigious awards in the football world.
In 2018, the Portugal international moved to Juventus from Real Madrid in a transfer deal worth €100 million, the highest fee ever paid by an Italian club and for a player over 30 years of age.
2. Lionel Messi: 163 Million Followers
Lionel Messi is often regarded as one of the greatest to ever play the game, just like arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Individually, Messi has 6 Ballon d’Or trophies and a record 6 European Golden Shoes to his name.
Messi has a lifetime contract with Adidas and a sponsorship deal with Pepsi, Gatorade, Huawei, and MasterCard, to name a few.
3. Neymar Jr: 140 Million Followers
Neymar Jr. is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for French club Parian Saint-Germain.
In 2017, Neymar moved from Barcelona to PSG in a £263million deal, making him the most expensive player ever.
Off the pitch, Neymar is one of the most followed players on social media. He has a total of 140 million followers on Instagram as he shows off training sessions, vacations, and his superstar lifestyle.
4. James Rodríguez: 45.9 Million Followers
James Rodriguez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid.
He was awarded the Golden Boot as the top goal scorer of the FIFA 2014 World Cup, before joining Real Madrid that summer.
From selfies, workouts, to game highlights and family photos, James makes sure to keep 45.9 million followers entertained.
The Colombian native has worked with brands like Hugo Boss, Pepsi, Gatorade, Adidas, and Huawei.
5. Marcelo: 45.1 Million Followers
Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior, or more commonly known as Marcelo, is a Brazilian national who plays a left-back for Spanish club Real Madrid.
He has won four UEFA Champions League titles with Madrid while internationally,
His skills and talent have fetched him almost 46 million followers as he ranks fifth on the list with 45.1 million followers. He mostly shares family photos and videos, alongside Real Madrid’s training sessions.
