Cristiano Ronaldo, the renowned Portuguese footballer, has once again made history. Earlier this month, he became the first male footballer to score 900 career goals, marking a major milestone in his on-field achievements.
This week, the 39-year-old Al-Nassr forward achieved a new record off the pitch by becoming the first individual to amass 1 billion followers across all major social media platforms.
Ronaldo celebrated this milestone through his newly launched YouTube channel, which saw impressive growth, reaching 15 million subscribers on its first day and 50 million within a week. The channel now boasts over 60 million subscribers.
In a message celebrating the achievement, Ronaldo said, “We’ve made history — 1 BILLION followers! This milestone is more than just a number; it reflects our shared passion and love for the game. From Madeira to the global stage, I’ve always played for my family and for you, and now 1 billion of us stand together. Thank you for your support and for being part of my journey. The best is yet to come, and we’ll continue to push boundaries and make history together.”
Most of Ronaldo’s social media following is on Instagram, where he has 639 million followers, representing about 8% of the global population. He also has 170.5 million followers on Facebook, 113 million on X (formerly Twitter), and just under 10 million across Chinese platforms Weibo and Kuaishou.
Lionel Messi is his closest football rival on social media, with the only other account exceeding 500 million followers. Celebrities like Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson follow with 424 million, 397 million, and 395 million Instagram followers, respectively. Ronaldo’s Instagram following surpasses the combined total of all 2024 NBA All-Stars.
This achievement comes as Ronaldo continues to expand his global influence. He is entering his third season with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr after a lucrative 2023 deal worth $215 million in salary. Additionally, his endorsements earned him $60 million last year, making him the fourth highest-paid athlete off the field.
In 2023, Ronaldo’s total earnings reached $275 million, second only to golfer Jon Rahm. As of March, his career earnings, adjusted for inflation, stand at $1.92 billion, positioning him to surpass $2 billion by the end of the year. When he does, he will join an elite group of athletes, including Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, who have crossed that threshold.