Behind Ronaldo! Messi becomes second person to reach HUGE milestone on Instagram

Lionel Messi has reached a huge milestone on Instagram by hitting 500million followers.

The Inter Miami star is just the second person in the world to reach that landmark.

However, he is still 122million followers adrift of the occupier of the top spot.

Messi started his account in June 2013 and has documented his footballing journey, including much of his success with Barcelona, winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and his move to Inter Miami.

In addition, the 36-year-old has posted pictures of his family as well as brand deals.

However, Messi is still some way off top spot, with his long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo having 622million followers. Ronaldo's account was set up in May 2012, over a year before Messi's.

The most followed account on the platform isn't a person but is actually Instagram themselves, who have 669million followers.

Following Ronaldo and Messi, singer and actress Selena Gomez is in fourth place with 429million followers, while Kylie Jenner is fifth with 400million.

Dwayne Johnson, known as The Rock, is sixth with 396million followers.

Cricket legend Virat Kohli is in 16th place with 266million followers. Al-Hilal star Neymar is the third most popular footballer with 219million followers, which puts him in 20th place overall.

Basketball icon LeBron James is 26th with 159million followers, and Real Madrid are the most popular football club on the platform having amassed 152million followers ahead of Barcelona's 125milllion.

The only other footballer with more than 100million followers is Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, who has 111million followers.