Did you know Cristiano and Lionel have more than 500 million followers on Instagram? There are more athletes, such as Virat Kohli and Neymar, who are ranked among the most popular athletes in the world. With the growing technology, athletes are now more influential and known than ever before. In today’s blog, we have brought you the list of the top 10 most popular athletes based on their Instagram followers.
Let us ask you who you think will be on the list, except the ones we mentioned above. Is it Mike Tyson, Sachin Tendulkar, or Max Verstappen? Delve into the blog and find out if you are right or not.
- Cristiano Ronaldo
If you have been following football for some time, or even if not, you might have already heard his name. Cristiano is a professional football player in Portugal and the captain of the national team. He started his professional journey at the age of 17 and became a member of Manchester United a year later. Currently, he is playing for a Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr FC.
Instagram followers: 625 million
- Lionel Messi
Another big name in football is Lionel Messi, who is regarded as the greatest player of all time. He ranks second in our list of the most popular athletes in the world and is one of the most talented players globally. Messi is a professional footballer and the captain of both major league soccer, Inter Miami, and Argentina’s national team. He has won many medals, including seven Ballon d’Or awards.
Instagram followers: 501 million
- Neymar Jr
Third on the list of most popular athletes in the world is another footballer, Neymar Jr. His exceptional skills and incredible speed made him win numerous medals and trophies, including the UEFA Champions League and the Copa America. He is a professional Brazilian football player who plays for the Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal and the Brazilian national team.
Instagram followers: 220 million
- LeBron James
Another one of the most popular athletes in the world is LeBron James, a professional basketball player. He is one of the best basketball players of all time and has won four NBA championships. James, also popularly known as King James, won two Olympic golds and the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Instagram followers: 159 million
- Virat Kohli
If you are a huge cricket fan, it is impossible that you have not heard this name. He is one of the most celebrated cricketers in India and around the world. Virat Kohli, one of the popular sports players, is known for his aggressive batting style and has broken numerous records, making him the best batsman in the world. He is the captain of the Indian Cricket team and also of Royal Challengers Banglore (RCB) in IPl.
Instagram followers: 267 million
- Conor McGregor
Heard of UFC? Conor Mcgregor is the man behind making UFC famous. He is one of the most popular athletes in the world and is known for his unwavering determination and his martial arts skills. Conor is an Irish man with a flamboyant personality and has won many championships. He has taken retirement from the sport, but it is widespread news from unknown sources that he will soon return to sport.
Instagram followers: 47.3 million
- Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is one of the most skilled tennis players in the world and has won 20 Grand Slam titles! He ranks 7th on our list of most popular athletes in the world, with millions of followers on Instagram. Nadal was born and raised in Spain and is known for his superb athleticism and fighting spirit, which rank him second in the world in tennis. He has more than 14.7 million likes on Facebook posts and 9.4 million followers on Twitter, and he made over $28 million in endorsements in 2023.
Instagram followers: 21 million
- John Cena
Have you ever heard the dialogue “You can’t see me”? Yes, you are right. It is John Cena’s dialogue. He is an American wrestler and actor who is among the most popular athletes in the world. He has won many championships and appeared in multiple Hollywood movies. However, he has left wrestling and is now pursuing an acting career.
Instagram followers: 20.6 million
- Roger Federer
Roger Federer is another tennis player on the list who is also the most popular athlete in the world. Just like Rafael, Roger has 20 slam titles and various other awards and accolades. In 2023, he earned an endorsement of over $58 million with a salary of around $9 million. Roger ranks 9th in the list of most popular athletes in the world.
Instagram followers: 12.3 million
- Tiger Woods
Last on our list of most popular athletes in the world is Tiger Woods,an American golfer who is known for their skills in the sport. He has won numerous awards, including 15 major championships. In 2023, he earned an estimated endorsement of around $50 million and drew a salary of $1 million.
Instagram followers: 3.4 million
Did Your Favorite Player Ranked?
We hope you found your favourite athlete in the above list. If not, then do not be disheartened; the list of most popular athletes in the world is not holistic; it is just based on the number of Instagram followers. If you found this list interesting, then comment on any other topics that you want information on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sport has the most fans?
Ans.Football has the most fans in the world.
What city has the best sports culture?
Ans.Los Angeles is known to have the best sports culture in the world.
Which city is known as the sports capital of India?
Ans.Bengaluru is known as the sports capital of India.
Who is the most popular athlete of all time?
Ans.Diego Maradona is the most popular athlete of all time.
Who is the richest athlete in the world?
Ans.Michael Jordan is the richest athlete in the world.
