By Toby Prince
About one week ago, Instagram, marked a landmark in the history of photo sharing as the platform celebrated its fifth birthday.
The app has grown to become a phenomenon in recent times – growing from 300 million active users nine months ago to 400 million.
While the likes of Kim Kardashian, Drake, Justin Bieber and other such celebrities dominate the platform, footballers are not without their space.
Here are the top five most followed footballers on Instagram as revealed by Just Football.
5) David Luiz (Brazil/PSG)
(Account name: @DavidLuiz_4/Followers: 10 million)
“God bless you! #geezers” reads David Luiz’s Instagram bio, and it’s this sense of personality (or call it madcap lunacy) that makes Luiz so popular both on Instagram and elsewhere.
The PSG centre-back is loved in Brazil, adored in Paris and still secretly admired by a number of Chelsea fans, despite the amount of criticism he tended to receive during his time in England.
With his shaggy hair, lust for life and frenzied sense of enthusiasm, it is hard not to love that man Luiz. That’s why he has amassed over 10 million followers on the platform.
4) James Rodriguez (Colombia/Real Madrid)
(Account name: @JamesRodriguez10/Followers: 14.5 million)
Voted the world’s sexiest man by People Magazine in 2014 and an “ideal lover for an extra-marital affair” by users of cheat-on-your-spouseathon site Ashley Madison, James Rodriguez is clearly a popular guy, and not just with football and Real Madrid/Colombian fans.
“Attractive, athletic and reserved” is how the adulterers on Ashley Madison chose to describe James, and this swell in popularity among female supporters might help explain why James has amassed over 14 million followers on Instagram.
That squeaky clean image and boyish charm is not enough to crash the top three though.
3) Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona)
(Account name: @LeoMessi/Followers: 27.5 million)
The best player in the world he may be but Lionel Messi can only hit third in the most followed on Instagram charts. An incredible player, perhaps his slight lack of edge and reserved personality don’t help him when it comes to social followers.
“Welcome to the official Leo Messi Instagram account” is the bio that greets Messi’s 25.7 million followers – a rather bland greeting that accompanies a set of rather bland photos. Messi with birthday cake. Messi drinking maté. Messi having a cup of coffee with the European Cup.
There’s no Ballon D’Or for social media followers (yet) but if there was it is bronze for Messi, one behind a guy he’s grown quite accustomed to competing with over the years.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid)
(Account name: @Cristiano/Followers: 31.9 million)
Who else? He’s got the looks to compete with Real Madrid teammate James Rodriguez and the skills to rival Messi. The three-time FIFA Ballon D’Or winner is the second most followed player on Instagram.
As you’d expect, he isn’t shy on the site. You’ll find a variety of topless images showing off his abs, together with a string of selfies: in the car, on a plane and in bed.
“Hi, I’m Cristiano Ronaldo. Don’t be alarmed. Tonight it’s just me in suit and turtleneck combo, you, and this luxurious marble-panel cradle of luxury. Did I mention I’m a classically-trained pianist?” reads his impressive Instagram bio.
1) Neymar (Brazil/Barcelona)
(@NeymarJr/Followers: 32.6 million)
Ronaldo can pose all he wants, but none is more popular on Instagram in the football world than Brazil’s wonderkid, Neymar.
His account is arguably the most organic, the most natural and the most fun. The man absolutely loves a selfie, but somehow manages to pose relentlessly without a hint of self-absorption about him.
The vibe from Neymar’s Instagram account is that he’s the friend you desperately want to have. Everyone loves him, from football icons like Ronaldo to current and ex-teammates like Alexandre Pato and Alex Song to the plethora of Brazilian supermodels that crop up on his feed looking positively delighted just to be in his sheer presence.
Take a look at Neymar’s Instagram and there’s no doubt about it: Neymar is cool. Neymar is fun. Neymar is Instagram’s number one.
