Instagram – the platform that popularized the phenomenon of racking up followers and likes on posts as a form of social approval. Depending on who you ask, hundreds of likes may seem like a lot; to some, thousands rather. But as the platform has grown to over 2 billion users, we’ve entered the era of posts receiving millions upon millions of likes, and competition for having the most-liked post ever. Welcome to an exploration of Instagram's most popular post, a digital marvel that has captivated millions. In this article, we’ll answer the question of what is the most liked Instagram post, as well as explore other posts that have captured the attention of millions of Instagram users along the way.
The start of the “most-liked Instagram post ever” trend
The egg post that previously held the record for the most-liked Instagram post in history was published on January 4, 2019, by the account @world_record_egg. The post featured a photo of a single, ordinary-looking egg with the caption "Let's set a world record together and get the most liked post on Instagram. Beating the current world record held by Kylie Jenner (18 million)! We got this." The post quickly went viral and became a global phenomenon, with people from all over the world liking and sharing the post in an attempt to break the record.
The egg post gained attention for its simplicity and absurdity, as well as the challenge it presented to beat the previous record held by Kylie Jenner. It also sparked a humorous social media competition between fans of the egg and fans of Jenner, with both sides trying to outdo each other in terms of likes. The egg ultimately achieved its goal, surpassing Jenner's record and becoming the most-liked post on Instagram with 18.4 million likes. The account behind the egg post later revealed that it was created as a social media experiment by an anonymous group of friends in an attempt to see how far they could spread positivity through social media.
A new Instagram record is set
Thanks to the hype surrounding 2022’s FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi has set a new record for the most-liked Instagram post in history, surpassing the previous record held by the egg. The Argentine soccer star's post, which featured a carousel of 10 photos celebrating his team's victory in the World Cup, received 59 million likes by December 20, 2022, beating the previous record of 58 million likes set by the egg in January 2019. The post, which was published in the aftermath of the World Cup, received 10 million likes in just 39 minutes and reached 50 million likes within the day. At that time, it was collecting several thousand likes per second.
For football fans and enthusiasts, this record should come as no surprise. Little could stop the hype train as fans cheered for Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup, especially as the team, headed up by Lionel Messi, had not won the world footballing event in over 30 years. For Messi, the victory was particularly important – despite being one of the most celebrated and awarded footballers of all time, spanning numerous championships, records, and accolades, he had yet to lead his country to victory in the World Cup, coming close in 2014 where they lost the final to Germany. Messi has also been in the sport for quite some time, and this World Cup amounted to a ‘now or never’ moment for the star. His team’s ultimate victory cemented Messi’s reputation, adding another legendary title to his name, and his Instagram post and the response to it only reflected this tremendous achievement.
The record doesn't just stop there, however – as the Instagram post racked up tens of millions of likes in just a matter of days, it became the most-liked post on any social media platform, overtaking the most-liked video on YouTube, “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee, as well as the most-liked video on TikTok, a clip of Bella Poarch lip-syncing to “M to the B” by Millie B.
Likes, follows, and friendly competition – a tale of two footballers
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the most popular soccer players in the world and have a long-standing rivalry on and off the field. Their rivalry extends to social media as well, with both players having highly successful and popular Instagram accounts.
Ronaldo's Instagram account, @cristiano, was launched in June 2011 and has since become the most-followed account on the platform. As of December 2022, the account has over 520 million followers and has posted over 4,000 times. Ronaldo's Instagram content typically consists of photos and videos of him playing soccer, training, and spending time with his family and friends. He also uses the platform to promote his personal brand and various endorsement deals.
Messi's Instagram account, @leomessi, was launched in August 2014 and has over 403 million followers as of December 2022, making it the third-most followed after Ronaldo and the official Instagram brand account. Like Ronaldo, Messi's account features a mix of personal and professional content, including photos and videos of him playing soccer, training, and spending time with his family, as well as his various brand deals and endorsements.
Both Ronaldo and Messi's Instagram accounts have gained attention for their high levels of engagement and the rivalry between the two players. Fans of both players often compare their posts and compete for likes and followers, with each player's posts often receiving millions of likes and comments. Messi and Ronaldo are currently tied with 7 posts in the top 20, with several more on the way. One of these posts includes a promotional photo of Ronaldo with Messi for Louis Vuitton, in which the two are playing chess.
Other accounts that have the most-liked posts of all time
While both Ronaldo and Messi may dominate the rankings with 14 out of 20 of the most-liked Instagram posts of all time, there are several other notable accounts that have made waves on the platform. These accounts include:
Kylie Jenner (@kyliejenner):
An esteemed American media personality and entrepreneur, Kylie has garnered immense popularity as a prominent member of the renowned Kardashian family. Boasting a staggering 391 million followers on Instagram, her account holds significant influence and engagement. Notably, one of her posts featured an endearing photograph of her daughter, capturing the hearts of countless users and previously holding the record for the most-liked Instagram post. However, as the years went by, the post was eventually surpassed in likes first by the enigmatic egg, and later by the iconic Lionel Messi.
XXXTentacion (@xxxtentacion):
Born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy, XXXTentacion was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter known for his unique musical style and introspective lyrics. Tragically, he passed away on June 18, 2018. Prior to his untimely death, XXXTentacion shared a poignant and thought-provoking final Instagram post that left a lasting impact on his followers. The post displayed a broken heart emoji and the caption, "LOVE IS WAR," along with a contemplative statement: "If I'm going to die or ever be a sacrifice, I want to make sure that my life made at least five million kids happy or they found some sort of answers or resolve in my life, regardless of the negative around my name, regardless of the bad things people say to me."
Zendaya (@zendaya):
Zendaya, the immensely talented American actress, singer, and fashion icon, has an Instagram feed that offers a captivating glimpse into her life, showcasing her stunning fashion choices, red carpet moments, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from her various projects. She has also gained popularity through her much-beloved relationship with fellow actor Tom Holland, whom she worked together with for Marvel’s popular Spider-Man films. One of her posts, in particular, resonated with fans, helping it break into the top 20 most-liked of all time – a post wishing Tom a happy birthday.
Tom Holland (tomholland2013):
Not to be outdone by his popular girlfriend, Tom Holland also has a post that managed to climb its way into the 20th spot of most liked Instagram posts of all time. The American actor, made famous thanks to his appearance in the MCU, teamed up with Andrew Garfield and Toby McGuire to recreate the iconic pointing Spider-Man meme, racking up over 25 million likes on the humorous post.
Selena Gomez (@selenagomez):
Selena, a widely recognized American singer, actress, and producer, has built an impressive presence on Instagram with over 418 million followers. As such, she has established herself as one of the platform's most prominent figures. As the most-followed woman on Instagram, overtaking Kylie Jenner and others in the Kardashian clan, Selena has no shortage of popular Instagram posts, with her most-liked being a recent selfie with the caption “Violet Chemistry”.
Ariana Grande (@arianagrande):
A renowned singer and songwriter in the modern era, Ariana and her powerhouse vocals have seen her garner plenty of interest on Instagram. Besides her singing chops, fans have remained invested in Ariana’s high-profile relationships over time; as such, her most popular post was that of a selection of snaps showcasing her wedding to husband Dalton Gomez, garnering over 26 million likes.
Conclusion
Instagram's most-liked post stands as a testament to the immense impact and reach of social media in our interconnected world. It reminds us of the extraordinary power of a single image to captivate and resonate with millions across the globe. We hope that this article has given you more insight not just into what is the most liked post on Instagram, but also into the idea of continuing to appreciate and celebrate the remarkable moments that inspire us in the vast digital landscape. May we all look forward to whatever comes next to break Lionel Messi’s incredible record on Instagram!
