- Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first individual to amass 1 billion social media followers.
- The Portuguese star acknowledges the fans in his journey, saying, “We’ve made history, 1 BILLION followers!”
- Forbes ranks him the highest-paid athlete in 2023, with more than $60 million in off-pitch earnings
Cristiano Ronaldo has never been one to settle for ordinary accomplishments. Whether it's smashing goal records on the field or breaking unprecedented ground off it, the Portuguese icon is a relentless force.
Over the last month, Ronaldo added two monumental milestones to his storied career, continuing to redefine the limits of what one can achieve in football and beyond.
First, the 39-year-old Al-Nassr forward became the first male footballer in history to score 900 career goals. Just days later, he made headlines yet again, this time for reaching an extraordinary milestone off the pitch, amassing a staggering 1 billion followers across all major social media platforms.
His YouTube channel itself has seen meteoric growth, quickly gaining 15 million subscribers on its first day and soaring to 50 million within a week. Now, with over 60 million subscribers, the channel’s rapid ascent has mirrored Ronaldo’s influence.
Speaking on his achievement, Ronaldo expressed his gratitude, stating,
“We’ve made history, 1 BILLION followers! This is more than just a number, it’s a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond. From the streets of Madeira to the biggest stages in the world, I’ve always played for my family and you, and now 1 billion of us stand together.”
Ronaldo continued to reflect on his journey, acknowledging the unwavering support of his fans: “You’ve been with me every step of the way, through all the highs and the lows. This journey is our journey, and together, we’ve shown that there are no limits to what we can achieve. Thank you for believing in me, for your support, and for being part of my life. The best is yet to come, and we’ll keep pushing, winning, and making history together.”
A five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Ronaldo's legacy is equally impressive on the field. He has scored 131 goals for Portugal and boasts incredible club records, including 450 goals for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus, five for Sporting CP, and 62 goals for his current club, Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, UEFA recently honoured Ronaldo with a special award for his record-breaking Champions League achievements. With 140 goals in the competition and seven seasons as the top scorer, Ronaldo is the only player to score in three finals and holds the record for the most goals in a single season, 17 in 2013-2014.
As of now, Ronaldo’s immense following includes 639 million fans on Instagram, 170 million on Facebook, and 113 million on X (formerly Twitter), 61 million on YouTube. His impressive social media achievements and persona, coupled with his on-field success, saw him top Forbes' list of the highest-paid athletes this year, raking in more than $60 million off the pitch aside from salary.
Top 10 most followed individuals in the world
TheRadar has compiled below a list of the most followed celebrities on sports, and other industries.
Combined Social Media Followers: 1 billion
TikTok Followers: Nil
Instagram Followers: 639 million
X Followers: 113 million
Facebook Followers: 170 million
YouTube Subscribers: 61 million
Twitch Followers: Nil
Threads Followers: Nil
Kuaishou: 9.3 million
Weibo: 7.5 million
2. Selena Gomez
Combined Social Media Followers: 688.2 million
TikTok Followers: 58.3 million
Instagram Followers: 425 million
X Followers: 65.9 million
Facebook Followers: 88 million
YouTube Subscribers: 34.7 million
Twitch Followers: Nil
Threads Followers: 16.3 million
Combined Social Media Followers: 596.2 million
TikTok Followers: 27.5 million
Instagram Followers: 294 million
X Followers: 110.4 million
Facebook Followers: 91 million
YouTube Subscribers: 73.3 million
Twitch Followers: Nil
Threads Followers: Nil