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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Portuguese icon boasts biggest following</li><li>Argentine rival sits second on that list</li><li>Both pulling in big money on social media</li></ul>

Revealed: How much Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi earn from ‘fake’ followers for each sponsored Instagram post

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ronaldo-first-person-400m-instagram-followers-man-utd/blt4084bd5158410743" target="_blank">the most-followed personality on the social media platform</a>, with 618 million accounts tracking his every move. <a href="https://www.ticketgum.com/ " target="_blank">Ticketgum</a> have, however, used the credibility tool <a href="https://www.modash.io/fake-follower-check/?influencer=%40oblakjan" target="_blank">modash.io</a> to determine how many of those followers could be considered “fake”.

WHAT HAPPENED?

With it suggested that over 150 million fall into that category, it can be determined <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/cristiano-ronaldo-tops-instagram-rich-list-kylie-jenner-lionel-messi-staggering-per-post/blt3e34697b6a01797a" target="_blank">how much Ronaldo earns from illegitimate users for each post</a>. That figure is said to come in at £361,931 ($461,040), with a staggering 24.3 per cent of his total following said to be "fake".<picture><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt467cea372560c7e7/fake_followers_insta.jpg?format=webp" type="image/webp"><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt467cea372560c7e7/fake_followers_insta.jpg?format=jpg" type="image/jpeg"><img src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt467cea372560c7e7/fake_followers_insta.jpg?format=jpg" alt="Instagram earnings fake followers" data-source="Ticketgum" data-copyright="Ticketgum" data-portal-copyright="Ticketgum" perform:prop="uuid:blt467cea372560c7e7;width:787;height:449"></picture>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo’s eternal rival, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/revealed-lionel-messi-instagram-earnings-200m-more-mls-rivals-inter-miami-la-galaxy-javier-chicharito-hernandez/blte7be58c0d1b45273" target="_blank">Lionel Messi, sits second on the Instagram follower chart on 497 million</a>. It is claimed that some 121m of those fall into the “fake” category, meaning that he pulls in £274,938 ($350,226) from them whenever a sponsored post drops on his account. Brazil international Neymar (£116,068/$147,851), Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham (£82,103/$104,586) and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe (£59,670/$76,010) complete the top five when it comes to biggest earners from “fake” followers.

DID YOU KNOW?

Messi and Ronaldo always cause a buzz on social media, and there is potential for them to deliver another spike in the coming days. Inter Miami are <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-ready-last-dance-cristiano-ronaldo-inter-miami-squad-tour-asia-al-nassr-fit/blt9fc758aefd12810f" target="_blank">in Saudi Arabia for the Riyadh Cup – with Messi forming part of their travelling party</a> – and are set to face Al-Nassr on February 1. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-public-apology-al-nassr-cancel-tour-china-injury-star-forward/bltce12aaa8ffc1c522" target="_blank">Ronaldo faces a race against time to shake off an injury and figure prominently in that fixture</a>.

WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO & MESSI?

Revealed: How much Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi earn from ‘fake’ followers for each sponsored Instagram post | Goal.com English Oman

Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is reported to be pulling in over £360,000 from “fake” followers for each of his sponsored Instagram posts.