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THE WORLD’S TOP 20 SPORTS ATHLETES ON INSTAGRAM IN 2025

The world’s top 20 sports athletes on Instagram in 2025 list. The latest ranking list of the world’s top 20 most famous and popular sports people, players, celebrities and influencers on Instagram with the most followers.

Brought to you by Mau, a Senior Instagram Marketing Specialist and sports fan at eDigital.

THE WORLD’S TOP 20 SPORTS ATHLETES ON INSTAGRAM IN 2025

Before you discover the world’s top 20 most followed sports athletes on Instagram in 2024, let me tell you something you have probably been turning a blind eye to…

Instagram is not helping your business.

Instagram is mugging you in broad daylight.

Instagram algorithm has been deliberately engineered to squeeze every last cent out of your marketing budget. Its showing your carefully crafted videos to roughly the same number of people who would notice if you screamed into your office refrigerator.

You thought you were building an audience on Instagram?

Nope.

You’re renting one from landlords who charge you extra just to talk to your own followers.

In other words, you’re doing the digital equivalent of building an expensive vacation home on rented land that could be bulldozed at any moment.

Meanwhile, your customer acquisition costs are skyrocketing and Mark Zuckerberg is laughing in a money-shaped bathtub.

The problem:
❌ You don’t actually own your Instagram followers data
❌ Your organic reach is being held hostage
❌ Your Instagram ad spend is spiralling out of control
❌ You can’t transfer your followers to your best CRM software no matter how many times you’ve dreamed about an “export” button

The solution:
✅ Stop relying on Instagram treating you like an ATM
✅ Lower your customer acquisition costs without selling your kidney
✅ Build a marketing strategy with assets you own
✅ Master digital marketing so your sales skyrocket without depending on paid ads

I run some of the best digital marketing strategy workshops that will teach you how to ditch the algorithmic extortion racket and create a marketing system that actually works for you.

Because let’s be honest, if you’re still throwing money at Instagram ads hoping for different results, that’s not marketing. That’s like calling your abusive ex at 2 AM: desperate, expensive, and guaranteed to end in disappointment.

Let’s craft the best digital marketing plan and social media strategy that boosts sales and customer lifetime value.

You may also want to check out the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on TikTok.

THE WORLD’S TOP 20 SPORTS ATHLETES ON INSTAGRAM IN 2025

20. James Rodríguez

@jamesrodriguez10

James Rodriguez is one of the most-followed sports athletes on Instagram with 52+ million followers.

James Rodríguez is a Colombian football player who has been struggling to keep his top form in the last few years.

Real Madrid FC signed him off right after his successful 2014 FIFA World Cup and he was given the famous Number 10 Real Madrid t-shirt that automatically got him instant celebrity status and fame. After a couple of seasons with Real Madrid FC, he was loaned to Bayern FC for another two seasons before moving to the English team: Everton FC where he played just one season in the English Premier League.

In 2021, Al-Rayyan (a Qatari football club) signed him with a salary of 12 million euros a year. He lasted only one season in Qatar before moving to the Greek football Olympiacos F.C. which had him for a short spell of 7 months terminating his contract in April  2023.

After three months unemployed (as a free agent), he signed a 2-year contract with Sao Paulo F.C. in July 2023. He joint Rayo Vallecano F.C. in September 2024 with a one-year contract until mid 2025.

James Rodríguez has featured in several marketing campaigns including Dos Molinos (His own Cafes chain brand), Calvin Klein, Forex, Huawei, WarRobots, Pixonic, Adidas Colombia, Monastery Couture & Dolce Gabanna.

Popular today: this year’s top 10 TikTok Marketing trends

19. Gareth Bale

@garethbale11

Gareth Bale is one of the most popular sports athletes on Instagram with 52+ million followers.

Finally, a good well-behaved boy on this list. Gareth Bale is a Welsh retired professional footballer who played last for Los Angeles F.C. He was a key player for Real Madrid FC and Tottenham Hotspurs in London.

Gareth Bale also enjoys playing golf – and he was not shy to admit it.

Bale has collaborated with different brands including TaylorMade Golf, BMW, Celtic Manor Resort, Wales Golf, The R&A, PGA Tour, Ryder Cup, PlayStation, Champions League, Cymru (Fawales), AirWays and Hublot.

Adidas, Nissan, Lucozade, EA Sports, and BT Sport are some of Gareth Bale’s most notable brand endorsements.

Sports marketers also checked out some of the top 10 most-followed footballers on TikTok.

18. Vinicius Jr

@vinijr

Vinicius Jr is one of the world’s most-followed sports athletes on Instagram with 52+ million followers.

 

Vinicius Jr is a Brazilian-born football player.

Vini is one of the best football left-wingers in Europe who currently plays for Real Madrid FC.

The talented soccer player is one of the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on Instagram. Vinicius has been a frequent victim of racial abuse mainly in Spain.

Football marketers are also reading the top 10 most-followed footballers on Instagram

17. Paulo Dybala

@paulodybala

Paulo Dybala is one of the most popular sports athletes on Instagram with 57+ million followers.

Paulo Dybala (also called: La Joya) is an Argentinian professional football player (creative midfielder) currently playing for Roma F.C. after a few years at Juventus FC in the Serie A league in Italy.

Dybala is also one of the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on TikTok.

The word Joya means “fantastic” in the Spanish language.

Paulo Dybala has collaborated with top brands including Adidas Football, Web3 football game, Skrill digital payments, Replay and MonkeyLeague.

Football fans are also watching the best 10 Lionel Messi wallpapers and images

16. Stephen (Wardell) Curry

@stephencurry30

Stephen Curry is one of the most-followed sports athletes on Instagram with 58+ million followers.

 

Stephen Curry is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Golden State Warriors team in the NBA, surely one of America’s top basketball stars.

Stephen Curry has collaborated with top brands including Curry Brand (His sneaker brand), Under Armour, Chase, Nissan Motor, Rakuten, Sony, JP Morgan, Brita, Unilever, Vivo, Infiniti and FTX, Cova Street Art, Underrated Golf Tour, Callaway Golf, Golf Channel, Eat Learn Play Foundation, Chase Finance, Apple Music, KPMG Golf, Carmax and Howard Bison Golf.

Sports managers also checked out some of the top 10 American female sports athletes on Instagram.

15. Paul Pogba

@paulpogba

Paul Pogba is one of the most-followed sports athletes on Instagram with 62+ million followers.

Paul Pogba is a French professional football player.

Due to his extraordinary defensive and attacking skills, Paul Pogba is considered one of the “best midfield football players in the world”.

No wonder Pogba is also one of the most-followed footballers on Instagram.

This popular French player on Instagram currently plays for Juventus FC

The media is surely missing the disagreements he had with coach Jose Mourinho when both were part of the Manchester United FC squad.

Brands collaborating with Paul Pogba include adidas, Pepsi, TCL Electronics, Adidas Football, Wahed Finance and the NBA.

Pogba also presented the Best Song award at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Marketers are reading this year’s top 10 graphic design trends

14. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

@iamzlatanibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most popular sports athletes on Instagram with 63+ million followers.

Zlatan is one of the most popular Swedish elite football strikers.

If you need to choose one of these top 10 sports stars to follow, this is your man, the “real” man.

Sports journalists and media revere Zlatan’s “no bullshit” ninja-type personality that allows him to say things no other football player in history has had the balls to say.

This controversial footballer walks his talk with a remarkable football career.

Hated by few but loved by millions, Zlatan is one of the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on Instagram and also one of the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on TikTok.

After a few years in the decadent U.S.A. soccer league, Zlatan Ibrahimovic came back to AC Milan F.C. (in 2019 – aged 38) to become (again) one of the top Calcio league (Serie A) top goal scorers of the season.

Zlatan retired – as a professional football player – in June 2023 with a massive farewell at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. He is now an advisor for Milan FC.

Global marketing campaigns using Zlatan’s name and look can be seen on brands such as Nike, EA Sports, FIFPro, United Nations World Food Program, Nivea, Volvo and Microsoft Xbox.

Trending this week: the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on TikTok.

13. Mohamed Salah

@mosalah

Mo Salah is one of the most-followed sports athletes on Instagram with 64+ million followers.

Mohamed Salah, also called: “The King of Egypt” is one of the most-followed footballers on Instagram. Mo Salah is a popular Egyptian football striker who currently plays for Liverpool FC in the English Premier League tournament.

The good Muslim married man got into a massive scandal in 2019 because of a GQ magazine photoshoot image in which he is being embraced by Alessandra Ambrosio ( former Victoria’s Secret Angel model).

He was criticised for breaking the strict code of ethics, rules and values for Muslim marriage men in Arab society. Related: The best Code of Ethics template.

A professional photoshoot brief written by Mo Salah’s agent should have avoided this crazy scandal and could have educated the photographer and GQ team on what type of photos are allowed for a married Muslim man.

Mohammed Salah’s brand collaborations include Adidas, Vodafone (Egypt), Falken Tires, Uber, Pepsi, Mountain View Egypt Real Estate Developer and Oppo.

A social media user commented:

“Imagine if a married Muslim woman did this, she would cruelly be beaten” 

Learn how to brief a Sports Athlete like a pro with this best Influencer marketing brief template.

12. Sergio Ramos

@sergioramos

Sergio Ramos is one of the most-followed sports athletes on Instagram with 65+ million followers.

Sergio Ramos is one of the most popular Spanish football defenders in the last decade.

Ramos’s successful career at Real Madrid FC has made him win different trophies including Champions League titles.

Sergio Ramos is also one of the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on Instagram and also one of the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on TikTok.

In June 2023, Sergio Ramos left Paris Saint Germain FC and joined Sevilla FC

His followers can enjoy watching videos and photos of his training regime and his fashion style. His attack on the “Egyptian king” Mohamed Salah in the Champions League Final 2018 went viral as Mo Salah had to leave the pitch with a bad shoulder injury.

Sergio Ramos has worked with top brands including Nike, Mizuno, Nivea Men, Hugo Boss, Budweiser, McFit, Pepsi, Gatorade, Assassin’s Creed and Microsoft.

Most views today: the top 10 American female sports athletes on Instagram

11. Marcelo Vieira

@marcelotwelve

Marcelo Vieira is one of the most popular sports athletes on Instagram with 68+ million followers.

Only Pelé may be loved more than Marcelo in Brazil.

Marcelo Vieira is a retired Brazilian professional footballer (left-back), one of the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on Instagram and also one of the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on TikTok.

Marcelo played for Real Madrid FC for 15 seasons and has had 58 appearances with the Brazilian football team.

After his long stint at Real Madrid FC, Marcelo joined Olympiacos FC (Greek football club) in 2022 for only one season and also played for Flumiense FC, a top-table Brazilian football team.

Marcelo Vieira retired in February 2025 and won many trophies including four UEFA Champions Leagues and five Spanish top professional “La Liga” titles with his team. Marcelo has mainly featured in global marketing campaigns for Adidas, Pepsi, Emirates Airlines, Amazon Prime Video and others.

Next: the top 10 most popular sports athletes on Instagram or the top 25 most popular sports athletes on Instagram

You should check out the world’s top 10 most-followed footballers on TikTok.

Join 5k+ marketers receiving the best digital marketing and social media tips.

Top marketers working for global sports brands are doing Influencer Marketing outreach with this exclusive “world’s top 200 sports athletes on Instagram“ list ready on Google Sheets.

Each entry includes:

• Full name
• Link to the Instagram account
• Instagram followers count (as of January)
• Main sport category
• Gender (Female, male, lgbtqia+)

Get immediate access to this premium list!

This premium list is being used by top professionals working for some of the top global sports brands. A great list for:

• Global Brand Strategists
• Global Marketing Directors
• Sports Account Directors
• Digital Marketers
• Influencer Marketing Strategists
• Social Media Managers for sports brands

Marketers are also reading the world’s top 25 female fitness influencers and personal trainers on Instagram – list

Next: the top 10 most popular sports athletes on Instagram or the top 25 most popular sports athletes on Instagram

Conclusion

Some of these top 20 most popular sports athletes on Instagram have a large and dedicated fan base as fans often have a strong emotional connection with them.

Partnering with some of the top 20 most-followed sports athletes on Instagram can significantly increase your brand’s exposure as their followers are likely to pay attention to their endorsements and collaborations and they may be more inclined to make a purchase.

These top 20 sports stars on Instagram are seen as role models and admired for their sports achievements and skills.

By selecting the right sports celebrity that aligns with your target audience, you can effectively reach and connect with your desired customer base.

When working with some of these top 20 sports athletes on Instagram, you should leverage their personal experiences, achievements, and values to tell a captivating narrative that resonates with your target audience.

Authenticity and relevance are vital for a successful collaboration with a sports athlete on Instagram.

You may want to consider the long-term impact of the partnership, as the association with one of the top 20 sports celebrities on Instagram can have lasting effects on your positive brand’s reputation and perception.

Final note: Are your marketing costs through the roof?

If your customer acquisition costs are climbing faster than a startup founder’s ego (after a successful IPO), and you’re hooked on paid ads like a reality TV star drama or a Tinder date who keeps accepting your dinner invites but never calls you back.

If that sounds like your situation, you should contact us.

Our exclusive digital marketing strategy workshops will mercilessly dissect your marketing, expose all the weak spots, and show you how to ditch the social media algorithms chokehold and build a marketing engine you actually own.

We’ll shake up your team’s thinking, drop fresh ideas and turn your marketing from “meh” to money-making.

Ready to stop burning cash and start making it? Hit us up! We offer:

✔ Digital Marketing Strategy. Because hope is not a plan.
✔ Online Ads (Google, Social, Remarketing). The art of spending money wisely for once.
✔ Social Media Marketing Training. So you stop posting into the void.
✔ SEO Strategy & Execution. Because if Google doesn’t know you exist, do you even?
✔ Influencer & Celebrity Marketing. Get people with clout to talk about you.
✔ Branding & Logo Design. So you don’t look like a dodgy side hustle.
✔ Consumer Giveaways & Competitions. Because people will do anything for free stuff.
✔ Email Marketing & Drip Sequences. Slide into inboxes the right way.
✔ Conversion Rate Optimisation. Turn window shoppers into actual buyers.

Ready to start marketing like a boss? let’s talk. 🚀

THE WORLD’S TOP 20 SPORTS ATHLETES ON INSTAGRAM IN 2025

was brought to you by Mau

Considered one of the best marketing consultants in Sydney (and not just by Mau’s mom), Mau delivers killer digital marketing strategy workshops and best social media training so good, even your grandpa will get it.

5k+ smart marketers who love stealing good ideas receive Mau’s weekly email, while others tired of guessing use Mau’s Digital Marketing Plan and Social Media Plan templates.

Mau is travelling the 🌎 ✈️ probably posting questionable travel choices on TikTok or YouTube