A ranking of the most liked Instagram posts of 2021 and who had the highest liked post of the year

These are officially the most liked Instagram posts of 2021

Shocked and appalled I don’t feature


Every year in December, things and trends from over the year begin getting rounded up and everyone becomes all nostalgic and reflective over what a year it’s been. And one of those is always the most liked Instagram posts – so here they are for 2021.

From footballers and their huge announcements, to hair transformations that stopped the world, baby news and of course, an entry from the Kardashian-Jenner clan – here is the full top 10 list of the most liked Instagram posts of 2021.

10. Cristiano Ronaldo – 19.3million likes

In September, Ronaldo posted about his return to the UK, and return to Manchester United Football Club. Cristiano is currently the most followed person on Instagram (376million followers, btw), and this post received 19.3million likes.

9. Mermaid Montana – 20.2million likes

You’ve probably seen out of context videos of Mermaid Montana a lot on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram. She’s literally a professional mermaid, and has just under one million Instagram followers. This reel of her popping up behind a girl at Blue Zoo has over 20million likes.

8. Lionel Messi – 21.2million likes

Lionel Messi has a huge 289million followers, so it’s no surprise he features here. In August, Messi announced he would be leaving Barcelona FC – the post got over 21.2million likes.

7. Lionel Messi – 22million likes

Lionel Messi was also in seventh in the most liked Instagram posts of 2021. He shared a picture of him after winning the Copa América trophy with Argentina and it received 22million likes.

6. Billie Eilish – 22million likes

In May, singer Billie Elish shared a picture of her photoshoot with Vogue. Over 22million people agreed, it was a huge wow moment.

5. Lionel Messi – 22.1million likes

Lionel is back at it again! When he joined PSG this year, over 22.1million people liked the post – exactly a million more than had liked the previous post about him leaving Barcelona.

4. Billie Eilish – 23million likes

We also haven’t seen the last of Billie, as she’s in the top five for the most liked posts on Instagram of 2021, too. Earlier this year it appears the whole world paused when she revealed she’d entered her blonde hair era, and 23million people liked the photo. It even became the fastest photo to reach one million likes on Insta. She captioned the pic “pinch me” and honestly Billie, same.

3. Kylie Jenner – 24.5million likes

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CTieyGYpYdi/

Would it be an Instagram records roundup without at least one feature from a Kardashian or Jenner? Earlier this year, Kylie told the world Stormi was going to be an older sister and the post received 24.5million likes.

2. Ariana Grande – 26.7million likes

Ok fair, I think a lot of us will admit we screamed when Ari dropped photos of her wedding with Dalton Gomez. The ceremony was in private in May, and the first of her three back to back photo dumps from the day got 26.7million likes.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 32.1million likes

It’s official: The most followed person on Instagram also holds the record for the most liked of all posts made in 2021. Just six weeks ago he and Georgina Rodriquez joint posted announcing they are expecting twins. After the World Record Egg (what a time that was) this is the most liked Instagram post of all time.

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Featured image via Instagram @arianagrande, @cristiano, @billieelish.