Lionel Messi's Instagram account, @leomessi, is one of the fastest-growing celebrity accounts in the world. With over 500 million followers, Messi ranks third on the platform behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and the official @instagram account. His follower count surged dramatically following Argentina's 2022 FIFA World Cup victory, adding over 100 million followers in weeks — one of the fastest growth events in Instagram history.
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Start Tracking Free →How Many Instagram Followers Does Messi Have?
As of 2026, Lionel Messi has over 500 million Instagram followers on @leomessi. His growth rate has been accelerating year on year — he went from 300 million to 500 million faster than any previous 200-million increment. To see his latest count and daily changes, add @leomessi to our Instagram Followers Tracker.
Messi's Instagram Follower Count History
| Year | Approx. Follower Count | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ~50M | Early Instagram adoption — modest growth |
| 2018 | ~100M | World Cup Russia — Argentina's exit sparked attention |
| 2020 | ~150M | COVID lockdown surge in social media use |
| 2021 | ~200M | Shock Barcelona departure and PSG signing |
| 2022 | ~280M | World Cup Qatar begins |
| 2022 | ~400M+ | Argentina wins the World Cup — biggest follower spike in IG history |
| 2023 | ~450M | MLS arrival with Inter Miami |
| 2024 | ~500M+ | Continued global growth |
The World Cup Effect: Messi's Biggest Follower Spike
Argentina's victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar triggered the largest documented follower spike in Instagram history. Messi gained approximately 15–20 million followers on the day of the final alone. In the weeks following the victory, he added over 100 million followers — a number that rivals the entire Instagram user bases of many countries.
His post celebrating the victory became one of the most-liked posts in Instagram history, with over 70 million likes. This single event fundamentally repositioned Messi in the Instagram follower rankings, pushing him past Kylie Jenner, Selena Gomez, and several other long-standing leaders.
Messi vs. Ronaldo: Instagram Followers Compared
| Metric | @leomessi (Messi) | @cristiano (Ronaldo) |
|---|---|---|
| Total followers | ~500M+ | ~900M+ |
| Weekly growth (est.) | 0.5–1M/week | 1–3M/week |
| Posts per week (avg) | 2–3 | 4–6 |
| Most-liked post | 70M+ likes | 19M+ likes |
| Year joined Instagram | 2011 | 2012 |
| Follower gap | — | ~400M ahead |
Why Messi's Instagram Following Grew So Fast
- World Cup 2022 victory sparked global emotional connection and mass following
- His underdog narrative — widely considered the greatest player ever but lacking a World Cup trophy for years
- MLS move to Inter Miami brought a new American audience
- Low posting frequency (2–3 times per week) makes each post feel special
- Authentic, understated content style contrasts with highly produced celebrity feeds
- Global Spanish-language media amplification across Latin America
- Football's universal appeal across regions where Instagram use is growing fastest (India, Indonesia, Brazil)
Track Messi's Daily Instagram Follower Count
Our free Instagram follower tracker records a daily snapshot of @leomessi's follower count. Add his handle to your dashboard to see the growth chart, 24h change, 7-day change, and monthly trend. For a comparison, you can also track Cristiano Ronaldo's Instagram followers side by side.
💡Messi's follower count is a useful case study in event-driven Instagram growth. The World Cup 2022 spike shows how a single real-world event can permanently shift an account's trajectory. Track his daily count to see how growth continues post-peak.
How Messi's Followers Compare to Other Footballers
Among footballers, Messi and Ronaldo are in a tier of their own. Neymar (@neymarjr) has approximately 220 million followers, making him the third most-followed footballer. Kylian Mbappé has grown rapidly to over 100 million. For tracking all top sports accounts, use our Instagram tracking tools to monitor any public handle. See also our guide to the accounts with the most Instagram followers globally.