Cristiano Ronaldo sets record with 600 million Instagram followers and top earnings

In a groundbreaking achievement, soccer sensation Cristiano Ronaldo has become the very first individual to amass a staggering 600 million followers on the popular social media platform, Instagram.

Ronaldo already had the honor of being the first user on the platform to have more than 300 million followers, so this incredible feat gives him even more bragging rights.

The compliments don't end there, either. The 38-year-old Portuguese striker, who is currently the third-highest earner on Instagram, has solidified his position as a genuine internet influencer.


Holding the prestigious title of the world's highest-paid athlete in Forbes' list for 2023, Ronaldo's remarkable journey to the top began with his move to Saudi Arabia. His popularity and charisma transcend the soccer field and extend into the digital realm, propelling him to the zenith of the 2023 Instagram Rich List.

The ranking, meticulously compiled by Hopper HQ, a tool designed to manage Instagram schedules, draws from a combination of internal and publicly available data. This information delineates the amount each user can command for a single post across Instagram and YouTube.

Astoundingly, each of Ronaldo's Instagram posts generates an astounding $3.23 million, according to Hopper HQ. This remarkable earning capacity aligns with his rapidly swelling base of nearly 600 million followers on the social media platform.

Notably, the renowned World Cup champion from Argentina, Lionel Messi, is his top rival on the list. Messi's postings are worth a significant amount of money—nearly $2.6 million each—underscoring their enormous social media influence.

By exceeding not just their fellow athletes but also well-known celebrities like Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ronaldo and Messi are put in a league of their own.

Despite the inclusion of a few other athletes, such as Brazilian soccer star Neymar and Indian cricket sensation Virat Kohli, Neymar stands out among the Top 20 athletes.

In a pivotal moment, Ronaldo created history by becoming the first male player to complete 200 international appearances in June. Celebrating this remarkable milestone, he secured victory for Portugal by scoring a decisive goal in the 89th minute, leading his team to triumph over Iceland in the European Championship qualifying match.