The 20 Most Liked Posts on Instagram

Breaking into the top 20 most-liked posts on Instagram is really impressive. With over 3 billion monthly users spending 33 minutes daily on the platform, that’s serious competition.

So what does it take? A massive following helps (check out who has the most Instagram followers). It also doesn’t hurt to have great photography skills. And having something worth capturing matters too – though as you'll see in this list, the rules aren't as rigid as you might think.

Spoiler alert: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate the list with 12 out of the top 20 most-liked posts.

Let's dive in.

20. Ronaldo honors Pelè

Cristiano Ronaldo opens this list with a tribute to Pelé, one of football's greatest players, following his death in 2022. By writing the caption in Portuguese, Ronaldo connected with audiences across Brazil and his native Portugal. The post has earned 31.3 million likes to date.

19. Baby in a towel

Sometimes a simple post surprisingly goes viral – a new entry on the list in 2025 is a short but memorable Reel of a smiling baby appearing out of a towel swaddle. Posted on June 10, 2024, the Reel has captured over 31.3 million likes so far.

18. Ronaldo and his partner announce twins

Next up is Ronaldo with a post from 2021 announcing that he and his partner Georgina Rodríguez were expecting twins. Tragically, one of the twins passed away during childbirth. The post is filled with comments of love and support.

17. Messi and Ronaldo face off in a game of chess

Lionel Messi rivals Ronaldo when it comes to Instagram dominance. So when luxury brand Louis Vuitton brought the two football legends together for an advertising campaign, the internet went wild. The post, shared on Messi's account, has earned over 32 million likes – proof that seeing two of the sport's greatest players in one frame is pure social media gold.

16. Sunset on fire

One of the newer entries on our list, this incredible video of a sunset quickly catapulted to the top ten. It’s also the most liked Reel on the list.

15. Cristiano Ronaldo isn't happy

Here’s Cristiano Ronaldo again, leaving the field after Portugal lost against Morocco and was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup. There was speculation Ronaldo would retire from international football after the tournament, and his caption to this post only fueled the rumors.

14. Ronaldo joins Al Nassr FC

Next, we have Ronaldo again, announcing that he is joining the football club, Al Nassr FC. When you have the second-most followed Instagram account (behind only Instagram itself), it’s no surprise a signing announcement post like this generates likes.

13. Lionel Messi is celebrating

Winning the World Cup is the highest achievement for professional football players, so it’s not surprising that Messi posing with the trophy attracted a phenomenal amount of likes.The carousel features photos and a video of Argentina’s team bus parading through the streets of Buenos Aires – and iconic moment not just for Messi but the country.

12. XXXTentacion’s last Instagram post

This was the last post from rapper XXXTentacion before his death in June 2018. It’s actually the only picture on his Instagram feed and to date has generated 34.1 million likes.

Eerily, a music video was released posthumously in which the rapper attends his own funeral.

11. Lionel Messi’s visit to Camp Nou

Messi's November 9, 2025 visit to Barcelona's Camp Nou produced an emotional Instagram post that captured hearts worldwide. The 38-year-old shared images from his surprise visit with a caption hoping to "return for the goodbye I never got to say as a player."

The post referenced his sudden 2021 exit from Barcelona after 21 years due to the club's financial crisis – a departure made even more painful by COVID restrictions that prevented a proper farewell. Barcelona now plans to honor him with a statue at Camp Nou, though Messi recently extended his Inter Miami contract through 2028.

10. Ronaldo takes an icy dip

On Christmas Eve 2024, Ronaldo shared a reel of himself trying out an ice bath in snowy Lapland. Emerging from a surprisingly long stretch in the water in minus 20 degrees Celsius weather, he breezily declares it “just a little cold”.

The comments beneath were electric, and 35.6 million Instagram users have "liked” the video to date.

9. Little girl sings “My Heart Will Go On”

Posts featuring children often receive a boost in likes, and this Reel is no exception. It shows piano player Emil Reinert receiving a song request from a three-year-old girl, who then proceeds to sing a perfect rendition of Céline Dion’s best known song in front of a shocked crowd.

8. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married” announced Taylor and Travis. The 2025 post featured five photos in total, including one with Travis down on one knee, and another of the dazzling engagement ring.

7. Lionel Messi poses with the World Cup trophy

Next up we have Messi again, this time posing with the World Cup trophy, a huge achievement that was celebrated around the world on social.

6. Ronaldo and Messi are still playing chess

Ronaldo also posted the Louis Vuitton picture of him and Messi playing chess. And snuck his way into sixth place.

Chess enthusiasts swiftly realized the game Ronaldo and Messi are playing is a real in-game situation from a 2017 showdown between grand masters Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. The game ended in a draw.

5. Toddler goes for a walk

It’s no wonder this extremely cute video of a toddler with an Insta 360 camera attached to her cap attracted over 48 million likes. As she enthusiastically explores the world, her wide-eyed expression is captured in HD – along with her laughter, cries, and early chatter.

4. Brothers sing “Jeene Laga Hoon”

Another new entry that’s rocketed straight into the top five, this Reel from April 2025 has received over 52 million likes (to date). In the Reel, singer Kishore Mondal is joined by his brother for a captivating rendition of the hit song “Jeene Laga Hoon.”

3. Messi really loves the trophy

More Messi? And he’s with the trophy again. This time, it’s a shot of him in bed snuggling with the World Cup Trophy. Sports stars have slept with their trophies and medals before, and Messi gained 53.6 million likes with his caption “Buen día !”

2. An egg

There was a lengthy period when this picture of an egg cracked every Instagram record, with over 60 million likes at the time of writing.

The @world_record_egg account began a campaign to set the world record for the most liked post on Instagram, and it was an invitation people just couldn’t turn down.

While it was successful, it was eventually knocked off the top spot. You’ll never guess by who… .

1. Lionel Messi celebrates winning the World Cup with Argentina

Messi's done it! He beat the egg! This is a moment that'll go down in history.

The most successful Instagram post in history is a carousel of Messi and Argentina winning the 2022 World Cup. With 74.7 million likes, will it ever be topped?

With thanks to Wikipedia for providing the posts in this list.

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