Top 20 Most Liked Instagram Posts [Updated September 2026]

I have seen plenty of Instagram posts get lots of attention for a day or two. Reaching 20 million likes is a completely different level, though. Very few posts ever get there.

At the top is Lionel Messi’s World Cup post from 2022. It shows Argentina celebrating after the final, and it has collected around 75 million likes so far.

The rest of this list is not all sports. There are celebrity announcements, tribute posts, random viral moments, and a few Reels that took off far beyond the creator’s usual audience. They are very different posts, but each one gave people a reason to stop, react, and share it.

I included photos, carousels, and Reels here. The numbers can change, so treat them as estimates. And while boosting Instagram posts can help creators reach more people through paid promotion, the posts in this list came from moments that were already huge on their own.

The most liked posts on Instagram in 2026

Let’s look at the posts that people could not scroll past. Some captured huge moments, like a World Cup win. Others were simple, funny, or unexpected, but they still ended up with millions of likes.

The numbers below are approximate and were checked on the publication date.

Messi’s Celebration After the World Cup Victory

Number of likes: around 75.7 million

Lionel Messi’s carousel celebrating Argentina’s World Cup win remains the most-liked post on Instagram. It was published after Argentina beat France in the 2022 final and shows Messi and his teammates celebrating with the trophy.

The carousel shows Messi lifting the World Cup trophy surrounded by teammates and fans, with the caption “CAMPEONES DEL MUNDO!!!!!!” (“Champions of the world”).

It’s not just another trophy photo. For many fans, it marked the final chapter in Messi’s long chase for a World Cup, and it quickly became the most liked social media post of all time, not only on Instagram.

The world‑record egg

Number of likes: 60.2 million

Before Messi’s World Cup post took over, a simple photo of a brown egg, nothing else, no celebrity, no fancy caption, held the record for the most liked Instagram post. The account @world_record_egg was created purely to beat Kylie Jenner’s then‑record, and it worked: the egg shot past 50 million likes and kept going into the 60‑million range.

The viral success of the egg proved how powerful community‑driven jokes and challenges can be. People enjoyed the absurdity of it, and for years it stood as a kind of in‑joke about social media itself.

Messi in bed with the World Cup trophy

 Number of likes: 54.7 million

In this post, Messi is lying in bed with the World Cup trophy, smiling, holding the cup close, and sipping mate. It’s a softer, more personal follow‑up to the big stadium celebration, and it racked up over 50 million likes.

The caption is simple, essentially “Good morning,” but the image says everything. Fans loved seeing him finally relax with the trophy after the pressure of the tournament.

The chess match between Ronaldo and Messi (Louis Vuitton campaign)

Number of likes: 42.8 million

The Louis Vuitton campaign photo featuring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo playing chess on a suitcase exploded across Instagram. Shared by both players, it was captioned “Victory is a State of Mind” and quickly became one of the most‑liked sports‑related posts ever.

The chessboard position on the suitcase references a famous real‑life game between Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, and the trunk itself is similar to the one used to carry the World Cup trophy. The whole setup was staged, there was no real match, but the symbolism of their rivalry and mutual respect made the image unforgettable.

Messi relaxing on the plane with the World Cup trophy

Number of likes: around 42 million

Another Messi post from the same World Cup run shows him on a plane, smiling and cradling the trophy in his seat. It’s one of those “quiet after the chaos” photos, and it quickly crossed the 40‑million‑like mark.

Fans loved the simplicity: no big stadium, no fireworks, just Messi and the trophy, finally heading home after years of chasing this moment.

Messi celebrates back in Argentina

Number of likes: around 34.7 million 

When Argentina returned home, Messi shared photos from the celebrations with fans in Buenos Aires. The images of him with the trophy and crowds packed into the streets gathered tens of millions of likes, landing this post in the top twenty.

For many Argentinians and football fans worldwide, it was a victory that felt bigger than sport, and the reaction on Instagram reflected that.

Sunset reel by @jiangzhibin24

Number of likes: around 34.6 million

Not every top post belongs to a superstar. In 2023, a reel from @jiangzhibin24 showing a vividly colored sunset went massively viral, collecting well over 30 million likes.

The clip’s success showed that simple, beautiful nature content can still cut through in a feed full of highly produced videos. People returned to it for the calm and color, and the post ended up as one of the most‑liked videos on the platform.

Cristiano Ronaldo announces his move to Al Nassr FC

Number of likes: around 34.4 million

When Cristiano Ronaldo announced his move to Al Nassr FC in the Saudi Professional League, his Instagram post racked up more than 30 million likes. The switch came shortly after the World Cup and signaled a new chapter in his career.

The announcement also drew global attention to Saudi football and highlighted a growing trend of star players taking high‑profile moves outside Europe’s traditional big leagues.

Ronaldo’s post after Portugal’s World Cup elimination

Number of likes: around 34.2 million 

After Portugal was knocked out of the 2022 World Cup by Morocco, Ronaldo posted a reflective, emotional message on Instagram that resonated strongly with fans. The image and caption together gathered over 30 million likes.

Unlike celebratory posts, this one showed disappointment and vulnerability. Many fans and fellow players responded with support, and the post became one of the most‑liked non‑victory posts on Instagram.

XXXTentacion’s final post

Number of likes: around 32.8 million

The last Instagram post from rapper XXXTentacion, a simple blank white image, became a memorial after his death and has amassed tens of millions of likes.

Fans from around the world use the comments as a place to mourn, remember, and talk to each other. The post shows how Instagram posts can take on a life of their own long after they’re published.

Ronaldo and Georgina announce they’re expecting twins

Number of likes: around 32.5 million

In October 2021, Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodríguez shared a photo announcing they were expecting twins, holding a sonogram together. The post reached well over 30 million likes.

Later, the couple shared the tragic news that one of the twins had passed away, which made this earlier post part of a much more bittersweet story. Fans rallied around them, grateful for their openness in both joy and grief.

Ronaldo’s tribute to Pelé

Number of likes: around 32.3 million 

Following Pelé’s passing, Ronaldo posted a heartfelt tribute with a photo of the two of them together. The caption honored Pelé’s impact on football and on Ronaldo personally, and the post gathered more than 30 million likes.

The image connected two eras of global football and reminded fans how deeply today’s stars are inspired by legends from previous generations.

Michaela Reed’s reel of a young boy running

Number of likes: around 31 million

A reel created by Michaela Reed showing a young boy running in a small competition, and trying not to fall off a rotating Hot Walker, became one of the most liked reels on Instagram, pulling in around 31 million likes.

It’s tense and adorable at the same time. Viewers stay to see whether he makes it, and the combination of suspense and cuteness clearly hits a nerve with audiences.

Messi celebrates victory over Croatia

Number of likes: around 31 million

Another Messi post that makes this list shows him after Argentina’s win over Croatia in the World Cup semi‑finals, a key step on the way to the final. The celebration photo received close to 30 million likes.

By this point in the tournament, fans knew a World Cup win was within reach, and many saw this match as proof that the story might finally end the way they’d hoped.

Al Nassr’s warm welcome for Ronaldo

Number of likes: around 29.7 million 

Ronaldo’s posts and Al Nassr’s official content from his unveiling in Saudi Arabia also collected huge engagement, with his “amazing welcome” post pushing toward 30 million likes.

The images of fireworks, fans, and Ronaldo greeting children on the pitch helped the post travel far beyond just Al Nassr or Portugal supporters.

Ronaldo posts about PSG–Riyadh exhibition match

Number of likes: around 27.9 million

Ronaldo’s post reflecting on the friendly exhibition match between PSG and the Riyadh All‑Star XI, where he and Messi shared the pitch again, was another huge hit, reaching close to 30 million likes.

For many fans, it felt like a last chance to see the two icons competing in the same match, and the post captured that sense of nostalgia and excitement.

Tom Holland’s birthday post for Zendaya

Number of likes: around 26.3 million 

On Zendaya’s birthday, Tom Holland posted a sweet photo of her with the caption, “My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays. Gimme a call when you’re up xxx.” The post climbed past 25 million likes.

Fans already loved the couple from the Spider‑Man films, and this quiet, affectionate post gave people exactly the kind of personal moment they like to see from celebrities.

Messi’s tribute to Pelé

Number of likes: around 26.0 million

Lionel Messi also shared a tribute to Pelé, posting photos and a message thanking him for his legacy in football. The post quickly reached the mid‑20‑million range in likes.

Seeing Messi honor another legend underscored how players at the top still look up to the generation that came before them, and fans appreciated the respect in both words and images.

Selena Gomez’s no‑filter selfie

Number of likes: around 25.8 million 

Selena Gomez, one of the most followed women on Instagram, shared a no‑makeup, no‑filter selfie that resonated deeply with her audience. The photo gained well over 25 million likes.

Selena has been open about mental health and self‑acceptance, and this post fits perfectly with that message. Many fans said they felt more confident after she shared it.

The three Spider‑Men together

Number of likes: around 25.2 million 

A post featuring Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire in costume as Spider‑Man, shared around the release of Spider‑Man: No Way Home, became a favorite among fans, with likes exceeding 25 million.

For a lot of people, seeing all three actors together in one frame felt like childhood and adulthood colliding, and the post became a symbol of just how big the multiverse crossover had become.

Looking at these posts is inspiring, but the next step is actually generating Instagram posts that suit your own audience and niche, not just copying what celebrities do. If you want to build on an existing niche audience, you can also buy Instagram accounts that match your content strategy.

Final thoughts

After looking through this list, it is funny how different the posts are. You have Messi with the World Cup, celebrity couples sharing big news, emotional tribute posts, a sunset Reel, a child in a race, and, somehow, a picture of an egg.

There is no single reason people like a post millions of times. Sometimes it is a huge moment that people have waited years to see. Sometimes it is sad news that brings people together. Other times, it is something simple that makes people laugh or want to share it with a friend.

That is what makes Instagram unpredictable. The biggest posts are not always the most polished ones. They are usually the posts that make a lot of people feel something at the same time.

FAQs

Which Instagram post has the most likes right now?

As of 2026, Lionel Messi’s post celebrating Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory is widely reported as the most liked Instagram post, with roughly 75 million likes, surpassing the previous record held by the world‑record egg.

Do Instagram likes still matter?

Likes are only one metric, but they do matter. More likes can improve how your post performs in the algorithm, which can help you reach more people and get more comments, saves, and followers over time.

What’s a “good” like percentage on Instagram?

There’s no perfect number, but many social media marketers consider around 1–5% of your follower count as a healthy range for likes on a post. The exact benchmark depends on your niche and how active your audience is.

Why are my Instagram likes dropping?

Likes can drop for lots of reasons: algorithm changes, posting less often, sharing at the wrong times, using formats your audience likes less, or simply posting content that doesn’t resonate as strongly. Sometimes your audience’s habits change too, even if you haven’t.

Does Instagram pay you for likes?

Instagram doesn’t directly pay you just for getting likes. However, strong engagement (likes, comments, shares, saves) can make it easier to qualify for monetization programs and attract brand deals, which is how many creators earn money on the platform.

About the author

Emi Daniel

Emi Daniel is a content writer at Social Tradia, where he writes clear, useful content that helps readers find what they need. Outside of work, he enjoys gaming and coding.

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