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Top 200 most influential athletes on social media (2026 ranking)

Today's movement

Ronaldo and Messi neck and neck. Topuria posts the biggest 30-day gain, at +400.

Who are the most influential athletes on social media? As of Oct 25, 2026, the five most influential are Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Neymar Jr, and Erling Braut Haaland. The Favikon Index Top 200 Athletes ranks athletes from every sport every day by their online influence on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X and LinkedIn. Related rankings: Top 100 Clubs, Top 200 Creators, and Creator brands.

Climbing · 30D

See who's surging ↓

Making people react · min. 5M views

See the map ↓

Falling · 30D

See who's surging ↓

Top 200 Athletes: the full ranking

The ranking

Athletes, active or retired, ranked by Favikon influence score.

#PersonScore ↓30D×
1↑1CRCristiano RonaldoRonaldoFootball · PT9,999=0.3×
=2=LMLionel MessiMessiFootball · AR9,999=2.4×
=2↓1LYLamine YamalYamalFootball · ES9,999−12.7×
=2=NJNeymar JrNeymar JrFootball · BR9,999=0.4×
=2=EBErling Braut HaalandBraut HaalandFootball · NO9,999=3.2×
=2↑7PDPaulo DybalaDybalaFootball · AR9,999+112.1×
=7=JBJude BellinghamBellinghamFootball · GB9,999=2.2×
=7=MSMohamed SalahSalahFootball · EG9,999=5.2×
9↓7RSRohit SharmaSharmaCricket · IN9,999−12.4×
=10↓1RRodrygoRodrygoFootball · BR9,998=12.8×
=10↑1PPedriPedriFootball · ES9,998=14.0×
=12=CLCharles LeclercLeclercF1 · MC9,998=18.0×
=12=RRaphinhaRaphinhaFootball · BR9,998=12.6×
14↑8RRicharlisonRicharlisonFootball · BR9,997+218.7×
15↑132KRKL RahulRahulCricket · IN9,997+2009.1×
=16↑4EFEnzo FernándezFernándezFootball · AR9,996=22.1×
=16↓1KNKhabib NurmagomedovNurmagomedovMMA · RU9,996−13.0×
18↓1EEndrickEndrickFootball · BR9,996−14.0×
=19↓5DBDavid BeckhamBeckhamFootball · GB9,996−21.3×
=19↑6MVMax VerstappenVerstappenF1 · NL9,996=11.8×
=19↓1STSachin TendulkarTendulkarCricket · IN9,996−10.8×
22↑4SIShreyas IyerIyerCricket · IN9,995=14.4×
23↓3ZIZlatan IbrahimovićIbrahimovićFootball · SE9,995−11.0×
=24↑83LNLando NorrisNorrisF1 · GB9,994+617.3×
=24=RGRyan GarciaGarciaBoxing · US9,994—11.2×

Reach vs. reactions among athletes

Who gets seen, who gets a reaction

Up: how many times their posts were seen in 30 days. Right: how much they make people react, compared with an account of the same size.

Reactions vs. an account of the same size →

Favikon score v3 · data as of Oct 24, 2026 · 2× = twice as many reactions (likes, comments, shares) as a typical account of the same size, on the same platforms and in the same country · posts under 48 h excluded · 33 people not shown (fewer than 3 posts in 30 days)

Biggest climbers and fallers among athletes this month

Who's surging, who's stalling

Biggest gains · 7d

  1. AGArda GülerArda GülerInstagram+667.1K19.5M total
  2. KDKevin De BruyneKevin De BruyneTikTok+556K7M total
  3. DDDésiré DouéDésiré DouéInstagram+276.7K8.5M total
  4. BDBryson DeChambeauBryson DeChambeauX+256.1K5.6M total
  5. MVMax VerstappenMax VerstappenInstagram+246.6K19.4M total

Biggest % gains · 7d

  1. KDKevin De BruyneKevin De BruyneTikTok+8.7%+556K
  2. BDBryson DeChambeauBryson DeChambeauTikTok+7.9%+182.6K
  3. PGPierre GaslyPierre GaslyTikTok+6.1%+38.5K
  4. ATAurélien TchouaméniAurélien TchouaméniLinkedIn+5.6%+1.9K
  5. BDBryson DeChambeauBryson DeChambeauX+4.8%+256.1K

Declines and slowdowns

  1. NJNeymar JrNeymar JrInstagram−357.5K7-day decline
  2. CRCristiano RonaldoCristiano RonaldoInstagram−236.1K7-day decline
  3. MSMohammad ShamiMohammad ShamiInstagram−228.4K7-day decline
  4. LYLamine YamalLamine YamalInstagram+143Kvs. +340.4K before
  5. LMLionel MessiLionel MessiInstagram−91.5K7-day decline

Followers counted on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, LinkedIn, Facebook · % computed only for accounts with at least 20K followers, to filter out small accounts.

Leaders by platform among athletes: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, LinkedIn

Who rules each platform

How the Top 200 Athletes has changed over time

Replay the ranking

Head-to-head matchups among athletes

The matchups

How the Favikon score works

The Favikon score measures online influence, not popularity or voting intention. Every day it combines four signals from the last 90 days: reach (average views per post), engagement (reactions, comments and shares per post), audience (followers) and consistency (how regularly an account posts). Each signal is compared with every account Favikon tracks on the same platform, then TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X and LinkedIn add up to one number. That is why someone strong on a single platform can be compared with someone present on all five. Read the full methodology →

Frequently asked questions

Who is the most influential athlete on social media?

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most influential athlete on social media according to the Favikon Index Top 200 Athletes, with a Favikon score of 9,999 points on Oct 25, 2026. Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal complete the top three. The ranking is recalculated every day.

How often is the Top 200 Athletes updated?

The Favikon Index Top 200 Athletes is updated every day. Tracked accounts are refreshed every six hours, and each Favikon score is recalculated daily from the posts of the last 90 days, so ranks and 30-day changes always reflect the latest data.

How is influence measured in the Top 200 Athletes?

Influence in the Favikon Index Top 200 Athletes is measured with the Favikon score, which combines reach (views per post), engagement (reactions per post), audience (followers) and posting consistency over the last 90 days. Each signal is compared with all accounts on the same platform. It is not a poll and not a follower count.

Which social media platforms are included?

The Favikon Index Top 200 Athletes covers TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X (Twitter) and LinkedIn, which all count toward the Favikon score. Facebook audiences are shown on profiles but are not part of the score. Platforms such as Weibo, WeChat, VK or Telegram are not covered.

Who is included in the Top 200 Athletes?

Top-level athletes (pro, Olympic, top college), active or retired, known for their sport. France view: athletes who represent France. Personal accounts only. Club, team and federation accounts don't count.

Other rankings

Other rankings

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