Instagram Most-Liked Posts: From Viral Eggs to World Cup Glory
In the fast-paced world of social media, a single image or video can capture the global imagination, garnering millions of likes in a matter of hours. Instagram, a leading photo and video-sharing service, has seen its record for the most-liked post evolve from celebrity milestones to a surreal internet experiment, and finally to a historic sporting achievement.
As of July 2026, the pinnacle of Instagram engagement is held by Argentine footballer Lionel Messi. His post celebrating the 2022 FIFA World Cup victory at Lusail Stadium in Qatar has amassed over 74 million likes, making it not only the most-liked post on the platform but one of the most-liked posts across all social media platforms in history.
Key Facts
- Current Record: Lionel Messi holds the top spot with over 74 million likes for his 2022 World Cup victory post.
- Fastest Growth: Messi's record-breaking post reached 10 million likes in just 39 minutes and 50 million within 24 hours.
- Cross-Platform Dominance: Messi's post surpassed the previous all-time social media records held by YouTube's "Despacito" and TikTok's Bella Poarch.
- The Egg Phenomenon: The @world_record_egg account once held the record with 60.5 million likes, specifically created to dethrone Kylie Jenner.
- Athlete Influence: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate the top 20, appearing 5 and 4 times respectively.
The Evolution of the Record
The Era of Celebrity Milestones
For years, the most-liked posts were dominated by global superstars. Early records were set by Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner. Beyoncé's pregnancy announcement and Kylie Jenner's first photo of her daughter were significant milestones, with Jenner's post reaching 18.6 million likes before being surpassed.
The World Record Egg Experiment
On January 4, 2019, the trajectory of Instagram records shifted from celebrity influence to internet memes. Chris Godfrey, an advertising creative, along with CJ Brown and Alissa Khan-Whelan, created the account @world_record_egg. Their goal was simple: surpass Kylie Jenner's record using a photo of an egg.
The image, originally taken by Serghei Platanov and uploaded to Shutterstock in 2015, became a global sensation. By January 14, 2019, the egg became the most-liked post on the platform. The feat was so unexpected that Platanov himself remarked, "Egg is just an egg."
The Messi Era and Global Sporting Triumph
The record remained with the egg until December 18, 2022. Following Argentina's victory over France in the FIFA World Cup final, Lionel Messi shared a carousel of photos celebrating the win. The post's growth was unprecedented, reaching 64 million likes within 48 hours.
In doing so, Messi broke the record for the most-liked post across all social media, overtaking the music video for "Despacito" on YouTube (50.2 million likes) and a lip-sync video by Bella Poarch on TikTok (60.3 million likes). It was the first post in history to cross both the 60 million and 70 million like thresholds within three days.
Top 20 Most-Liked Instagram Posts
The current leaderboard reflects a mix of sporting legends, viral reels, and celebrity announcements. While athletes like Messi and Ronaldo hold significant sway, a new trend of viral Reels (short-form vertical videos) has entered the top rankings.
| Rank | Account | Owner | Description | Likes (Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @leomessi | Lionel Messi | 2022 World Cup Celebration | 74.6 |
| 2 | @world_record_egg | Chris Godfrey | An egg | 60.5 |
| 3 | @justinflom | Justin Flom | Vegas Fun House Reel | 54.3 |
| 4 | @leomessi | Lionel Messi | Messi in bed with World Cup Trophy | 53.4 |
| 5 | @kishore_mondal_official | Kishore Mondal | Singing "Jeene Laga Hoon" Reel | 51.4 |
| 6 | @Insta360 | Insta360 | Toddler walking POV video | 47.4 |
| 7 | @bredypett | Bredy e Guci | Children with dogs Reel | 45.0 |
| 8 | @epicflipzandkickz | EpicFlipzAndKickz | Children bottle flip Reel | 44.6 |
| 9 | @isabellastricklandd | Isabella Strickland | Child with POV camera | 44.3 |
| 10 | @cristiano | Cristiano Ronaldo | Chess with Messi (Louis Vuitton ad) | 41.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who currently holds the record for the most-liked Instagram post?
Lionel Messi holds the record with his post celebrating Argentina's 2022 FIFA World Cup victory, which has received over 74 million likes.
How did a photo of an egg become the most-liked post?
The @world_record_egg account was created by Chris Godfrey and friends specifically to challenge the record held at the time by Kylie Jenner, turning the image into a viral internet meme.
Which social media platforms did Lionel Messi's post beat?
Messi's post became the most-liked social media post ever by surpassing the records of YouTube (the "Despacito" music video) and TikTok (Bella Poarch's lip-sync video).
Who are the most frequent record-holders in the top 20?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the most frequent, with Messi appearing 5 times and Ronaldo appearing 4 times in the top 20 list.
What is the most-replied comment thread on Instagram?
In July 2026, a comment by Erling Haaland on a Reel bypassed the standard 500-reply limit, accumulating over 46,000 replies.