Lionel Messi Explains Why He Broke Cristiano Ronaldo’s Instagram Record

• Lionel Messi currently holds the record for the most-liked post on Instagram
• The PSG forward reached the feat following Argentina's 2022 World Cup win
• The veteran scored seven goals and provided three assists for La Albiceleste

Paris Saint-Germain forward, Lionel Messi has opened up on how the yearning from his teeming fans helped him set a record on Instagram.

The veteran finally laid his hands on the World Cup after guiding Argentina to triumph in Qatar last month, scoring seven goals including a brace in the final against France.

After helping La Albiceleste win their first Mundial since 1986, the 35-year-old took to the photo-sharing app, Instagram to share the moment with his fans.

In the process, Messi's photo eclipsed one by rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who previously held the record for the most-liked Instagram post by a sportsperson, per Khelnow.

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By extension, his photo became the most-liked post on the photo-sharing app, garnering over 75-million likes to beat that of a record-holding egg with 56.1-million likes.

Explaining how his post became the most-liked on Instagram, Messi claimed his fans’ desire to see him with the World Cup trophy was the reason for the record.

“I didn't look for it either, because I wasn't looking to be the most liked photo, far from it. But there it is,” Messi said as quoted by Sportskeeda.

Messi stated breaking the record had showed how many people wanted to see him win the World Cup.

"I think that photo reached people. The truth is that I could read very few comments. It is very difficult. I had a million messages and [Instagram] ended up blocking me. It was crazy."

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Messi sets Instagram record

The photo of Messi holding the World Cup is officially the most-liked picture on Instagram, overtaking an image of an egg.

The egg post got an eyewatering 56.1-million likes, but the image of the veteran striker lifting the cup has now raced past it.

The image of Messi was posted to the photo-sharing app after Argentina beat France on penalties in the final of the 2022 tournament.

Messi's Instagram account blocked

Sports Brief earlier reported on Messi's Instagram account being blocked after he led Argentina to World Cup triumph in Qatar on December 18, 2022.

His triumph had a major impact on social media across the world, with celebratory posts and pictures still circulating around the internet to this day.

Messi broke an existing Instagram record by having the most-liked picture on the platform, but the veteran revealed there was more to this story.