Most Liked Instagram Post – Messi’s World Cup Victory Record

Lionel Messi’s Instagram post celebrating Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup victory has become the most liked image in the platform’s history, amassing over 75 million likes and earning official recognition from Guinness World Records. The post, showing Messi lifting the World Cup trophy at Lusail Stadium, surpassed the previously dominant egg photograph that had held the record since 2019.

The achievement marks a significant shift in social media engagement patterns, moving the record beyond traditional celebrity posts toward global sporting moments. According to multiple tracking sources, Messi’s celebration content occupies three positions within the top seven most-liked posts on the platform.

Understanding the landscape of Instagram’s most-engaged content reveals patterns in viral culture, platform dynamics, and the evolving nature of digital record-keeping.

What is the most liked Instagram post?

Messi’s post originally depicted him celebrating with the World Cup trophy after Argentina defeated France in a historic final. The image resonated globally, reaching 10 million likes within 39 minutes of posting and 50 million within 24 hours.

The record-setting content represents a carousel of images capturing the celebratory moment, with Messi shown lifting the trophy above his head. The post quickly surpassed the previous record held by a simple photograph of an egg, which had accumulated approximately 56 million likes at the time of the overtake.

• Messi’s post achieved 10 million likes in 39 minutes after posting
• It reached 50 million likes within 24 hours of publication
• The post officially surpassed the egg record on December 20, 2022
• Guinness World Records verified the achievement in March 2023
• The post represents the most liked image across all social media platforms
• Three of Messi’s World Cup posts rank within the top seven overall

Who holds the record for the most liked Instagram post?

Lionel Messi holds the record for the most liked Instagram post, with his December 18, 2022 World Cup victory celebration dominating the engagement charts. The post was verified by Guinness World Records as the most liked image on Instagram, documenting a significant milestone in social media history.

The evolution from celebrity to sporting dominance

Prior to Messi’s achievement, Instagram’s engagement record had shifted through various content types. The early 2010s saw posts from musicians like Beyoncé and celebrities such as Kylie Jenner dominating the charts. The 2016 record belonged to an image of Beyoncé announcing her pregnancy, capturing significant media attention.

The landscape changed dramatically in January 2019 when a photograph of an ordinary brown egg, posted under the account @world_record_egg by Chris Godfrey, became a viral sensation. The egg account deliberately challenged celebrity posts, creating a movement that eventually accumulated over 60 million likes and held the top position for nearly four years.

Messi’s impact on the records list

Following the World Cup victory, Messi’s profile became the most-represented account in the top rankings. His celebration post reached number one, while two additional posts from the same tournament secured positions in the top seven. These include an image of Messi in bed with the trophy and another showing him on an airplane with the award.

The concentration of Messi content at the top reflects the global resonance of Argentina’s World Cup win, particularly given the dramatic nature of the final against France. According to Brandwatch analytics, Cristiano Ronaldo also features prominently, with his Louis Vuitton advertisement with Messi ranking sixth overall.

The journey to the record: key milestones

Several pivotal moments have defined the landscape of Instagram’s most-engaged content over the past decade. Tracking these events helps contextualize how social media records have evolved across different content categories and celebrity sectors.

Timeline of record-breaking posts

1. April 2016 – Beyoncé announces pregnancy in Instagram post, setting early engagement records
2. January 2019 – The egg photograph goes viral, eventually surpassing all celebrity posts
3. December 2022 – Messi’s World Cup victory post begins accumulating historic engagement numbers
4. December 20, 2022 – Messi’s post officially surpasses the egg’s record of approximately 56 million likes
5. March 2023 – Guinness World Records formally verifies Messi’s post as the most liked Instagram image
6. 2024-2025 – New entries from creators and brands enter the top rankings, including viral Reels

The progression from Beyoncé’s 2016 announcement through the egg phenomenon to Messi’s 2022 dominance illustrates shifting patterns in what captures global digital attention. Each record-breaking moment reflected different cultural currents of its era.

What counts as confirmed versus uncertain?

When examining social media records, distinguishing between verified data and ongoing metrics becomes essential for accuracy.

Established information: Messi’s post achieved the record with verified Guinness documentation. The specific date of posting (December 18, 2022) and the content type (carousel celebrating the World Cup win) are confirmed. The Guinness verification on March 24, 2023, established the official record figure of 75,471,947 likes. The location (Lusail Stadium) and opponent (France) in the underlying event are fully documented.

Information that remains unclear: The precise current like count fluctuates daily as users continue engaging with the post. Slight variations exist between tracking sources due to different reporting timestamps. Whether the Messi post will eventually surpass 100 million likes remains unprojected by official bodies. The algorithmic factors determining viral spread on Instagram have not been publicly disclosed by the platform.

Understanding the cultural impact

The dominance of Messi’s World Cup content on Instagram reflects broader shifts in how global audiences engage with sporting moments. The 2022 final between Argentina and France became one of the most-watched sporting events in history, with an estimated global audience exceeding one billion viewers watching the dramatic penalty shootout conclusion.

This context helps explain why Messi’s celebration post achieved unprecedented engagement figures. For many viewers, the World Cup victory represented the culmination of years of anticipation, given Messi’s previous near-misses in major finals. The emotional weight of the moment translated directly into social media engagement.

The presence of Ronaldo alongside Messi in multiple top positions reinforces the outsized cultural footprint of football’s current era. Their rivalry, spanning multiple clubs and international competitions, continues generating engagement whenever both figures appear in shared content. The 2022 Louis Vuitton advertisement featuring both players ranked sixth overall with over 41 million likes.

How to view the record post and verify current engagement

Instagram’s official platform provides access to all public posts, including those setting engagement records. The most liked post remains visible on Lionel Messi’s profile (@leomessi), where users can observe the current engagement metrics directly.

Multiple third-party tracking services compile updated lists of the most-engaged content. The Wikipedia compilation of most-liked posts maintains ongoing updates based on publicly available data, though verification dates and methodology may vary between sources.

For those researching social media records, comparing multiple authoritative sources provides the most accurate picture, as real-time engagement figures differ from verified record counts established on specific dates.

Summary

Lionel Messi’s December 18, 2022 Instagram post celebrating Argentina’s World Cup victory remains the most liked image in the platform’s history, with Guinness-verified engagement exceeding 75 million likes. The post surpassed the previous egg record while Messi’s account secured three positions within the top seven overall rankings. The achievement reflects both the global significance of the sporting moment and the continuing evolution of engagement patterns on major social platforms. For further context on viral content phenomena, explore the Most Viewed YouTube Video record comparisons across platforms.

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