Lionel Messi celebrates reaching 500MILLION Instagram followers – but the Inter Miami star still trails rival Cristiano Ronaldo by 122m!
- He is the third most followed Instagram account, after the brand and Ronaldo
- His social media milestone comes after reports that he is tired after two MLS games
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Lionel Messi has celebrated his latest social media milestone – 500 million followers on Instagram – by thanking his fans on the platform, even though the Inter Miami star is still 122 million behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 36-year-old Argentinian is now the third most followed Instagram account in the world, behind Instagram’s own brand account and Ronaldo. He beats Selena Gomez in third place with 71 million followers.
‘5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Million Thanks for always being there!!’ he shared as a caption to a video of all his posts he shared on Instagram over the past year.
The 2022 World Cup winner reached new heights on social media after Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino warned that Messi is already showing signs of fatigue after the team’s first two MLS games of the season.
To reduce pressure on the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, the club has decided not to participate in the US Open Cup this year, as only eight of the 26 US teams in the MLS are willing to participate in the competition to take.
Lionel Messi shared his milestone on social media just a day before Inter Miami faced Orlando City
Houston beat Miami 2-1 last year. Messi missed the match due to an injury.
He and his Inter Miami teammates will look to continue their undefeated start to the 2024 MLS season when they host Orlando City on Saturday.
Miami (1-0-1, 4 points) opened on February 21 with a 2-0 home win over Real Salt Lake.
Messi is the third most followed account on Instagram, but follows Cristiano Ronaldo with 122 million
The club followed that up last Sunday with a dramatic 1-1 draw at LA Galaxy, with Messi scoring the equalizer in second-half stoppage time.
Almost inevitably, Messi combined with former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba to score a late score.
“It is true that they dominated the first half, especially in the period when Riqui Puig had the most time on the ball and made the team play very well,” Miami manager Tata Martino said through an interpreter.
“But then we had the personality to search further, and we reached the knot, well, with the genius of Leo, you might say.”