If the volume of followers on social media is a yardstick for estimating popularity, Cristiano Ronaldo is miles ahead of the rest.
The football superstar, still at the peak of his powers at 36, has become the first person to breach the 300 million followers mark on Instagram. The Portuguese striker is way ahead of second-placed Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, a wrestler-turned-actor with 246 million followers.
Others in the top 10 of the list are from the entertainment industry, barring another soccer superstar Lionel Messi at No. 7 with nearly 219 million followers.
The only Indian among the top 20 vis-à-vis number of Instagram followers is India’s cricket captain Virat Kohli – at No. 19, approaching 128 million followers.
The next popular among Indians are actresses Priyanka Chopra Jones (at 39th with 64.5 million followers) and Shraddha Kapoor (No. 40 with 62.8 followers).
CHECK OUT THE TOP 20 LIST
1. Cristiano Ronaldo — 300,098,417 followers
2. therock (Dwayne Johnson) — 246,706,107 followers
3. Ariana Grande — 244,119,844 followers
4. Kylie (Jenner) — 241,614,998 followers
5. Selena Gomez — 238,036,264 followers
6. Kim Kardashian West — 229,259,299 followers
7. Leo Messi — 218,923,935 followers
8. Beyonce — 186,672,544 followers
9. Justin Bieber — 178,384,909 followers
10. Kendall (Jenner) — 170,011,420 followers
11. National Geographic — 167,470,540 followers
12. Taylor Swift — 163,550,287 followers
13. Jennifer Lopez — 159,953,852 followers
14. Khloe Kardashian — 156,265,126 followers
15. Nike — 155,560,142 followers
16. NJ 10 (Neymar Junior) — 152,341,944 followers
17. Barbie — 141,722,109 followers
18. Miley Cyrus — 135,007,723 followers
19. Virat Kohli — 127,893,898
20. Kevin Hart — 113,809,331