
The most liked Instagram post is a coveted title, and for good reason - it's a badge of honor for creators and brands alike. According to our research, the most liked Instagram post was posted by Kylie Jenner, with over 18.4 million likes.
The post was a photo of her daughter Stormi, and it's a great example of how a simple, yet engaging visual can capture the hearts of millions. In fact, Kylie's post was the most liked in 2018, a year that saw a significant increase in engagement on Instagram.
Interestingly, the most liked Instagram post is often a photo, not a video. This is likely due to the fact that photos are more easily consumed and shared than videos, making them a more accessible and engaging option for users.
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Most Liked Instagram Posts
The most liked Instagram posts are a fascinating topic. The current record holder is Lionel Messi's celebratory pic after winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, with a whopping 74 million likes.
To give you an idea of the most liked posts, here are the top 20 most liked Instagram posts of all time, ranked from lowest to highest:
Messi's World Cup Win
Lionel Messi's World Cup Victory holds the record for the most liked Instagram post, with over 75 million likes. It was shared in December 2022, just hours after the final match.
The post celebrated Argentina's World Cup victory, featuring a carousel of emotional images showcasing Messi holding the trophy, embracing teammates, and smiling with fans. These images captured the human side of the story, conveying persistence, triumph, and legacy.
The timing of the post was crucial, as it tapped into the adrenaline-fueled emotions of fans still buzzing from the match. Even those who weren't die-hard soccer fans were drawn to the post's authenticity.
The post's success serves as a reminder that emotional milestones can dramatically boost engagement, whether it's a product launch or a business win. Capturing the moment authentically and posting at the right time can make all the difference.
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Tom Holland Reacts to Zendaya's Birthday Post
Tom Holland's birthday tribute to Zendaya quickly earned a spot among the most liked Instagram posts, with 28 million likes.
The simplicity and warmth of the post made it relatable to fans, who loved the authenticity of the moment.
It didn't feel curated or promotional, but rather a genuine message to someone he cares about.
Showing a softer, more human side of your business can build trust and loyalty, as seen in Tom's post.
Instagram Post Search
To find the most liked posts on Instagram, you need to specify the period you're interested in. This allows you to see which posts have gained the most likes over time.
You can sort publications as you need, by the number of likes, comments, reposts, or engagement rate. This is the easiest way to find the most liked Instagram posts of any account.
Clicking on the "Link" button will take you to the original publication, where you can view it in its entirety. You can also add interesting records to one of your lists, or create a new list of favorites by clicking on "Add to favorites".
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You can filter publications by content type, such as photo, video, animation, or text. This makes it easy to find the most liked posts that match your specific interests.
Here are the steps to find the most liked Instagram posts:
- Specify the period you are interested in.
- Sort publications by the number of likes, comments, reposts, or engagement rate.
- Click on the "Link" button to view the original publication.
- Add interesting records to one of your lists, or create a new list of favorites.
- Filter publications by content type.
The 20 Greatest Instagram Posts of All Time
The most liked Instagram posts of all time are a testament to the platform's ability to capture our attention and emotions. They're a mix of joy, love, and sometimes even tragedy.
Emotional connection is a key factor in making posts go viral, with posts that celebrate victories, mourn losses, or share love and gratitude resonating with people in a real way. This is evident in Taylor Swift's engagement post, which racked up likes fast and made history for having one of the most-liked Instagram posts within a day of sharing it.
Posts that are timely and visually impactful also do well, like Cristiano Ronaldo's emotional tribute to late soccer player Pelé, which earned over 31 million likes. The post was shared during a major cultural moment, and its simplicity and authenticity made it relatable and impactful.
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Visual simplicity or impact is also crucial, as seen in the iconic egg picture, which has 60 million likes and was posted as a social experiment. The post's simplicity and unexpectedness made it a meme within seconds of its creation.
Here are the top 20 most-liked Instagram posts of all time, ranked from lowest to highest:
These posts are a mix of joy, love, and sometimes even tragedy, but they all have one thing in common: they made people care.
Key Takeaways and Analysis
To create a viral post on Instagram, focus on creating an emotional connection with your audience. This can be achieved by sharing personal stories, celebrating milestones, or showcasing moments of joy and love. For instance, Cristiano Ronaldo's post about returning to the field to play with "old friends" again garnered 27 million likes.
The most-liked Instagram posts often have a simple yet impactful visual. Take the egg picture, which became the most-liked post with over 55.8 million likes. It was a plain photo with a thought-provoking caption that encouraged people to participate in a social experiment.
Timing is also crucial for a post to go viral. Posting during a major cultural or emotional moment can increase engagement. For example, Lionel Messi's post about winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina received 74 million likes, making it the most-liked post ever.
Here are the top 5 most-liked Instagram posts of all time:
Core Connections Among Posts
Emotional connection is a key factor in making people care about a post. Posts that celebrate victories, mourn losses, or share love and gratitude tend to resonate with people on a deeper level.
A single, strong visual message can make a post stand out. The egg picture, for example, was a plain photo that still managed to garner 60 million likes. In contrast, Billie's hair transformation was bold but clean, making it visually impactful.
Relatability and authenticity are crucial in making people stop scrolling. Even when a post involves a celebrity, it's the personal and genuine tone that makes it relatable. Take, for example, Zendaya's post wishing Tom Holland a happy birthday, which received over 26 million likes.

Here are the common themes that stood out across the most liked Instagram posts:
- Emotional connection: Whether it was celebrating a victory, mourning a loss, or sharing love and gratitude, each post made people feel something.
- Timing that matched the moment: Posts that were shared during major cultural or emotional moments saw massive engagement.
- Visual simplicity or impact: Posts that focused on a single, strong visual message stood out.
- Relatability or authenticity: Each post felt real and personal.
- Cultural relevance: These moments were tied to trends, emotions, or shared experiences that people were already talking about.
Key Lessons for Brands
To create engaging content, focus on being human and imperfect, not polished and perfect. People want connection, not a curated image.
Showing your people, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments helps build a connection with your audience. This can be done through sharing personal stories, client wins, or milestones.
A clean, single-subject image often performs better than a busy, overdesigned one. Less noise means more focus and more likes.
Timing is everything - share content when the moment is fresh, and take advantage of relevant events or trends in your industry or audience's world.
To encourage meaningful interaction, ask questions in your captions and start conversations in your comments. Engagement fuels visibility, so show appreciation when people respond.
Pair your visual with a thoughtful caption that gives context, adds heart, or shares something relatable. This helps people understand the story behind the image and feel invested in what you share.
Here are the key takeaways for brands:
- Be human, not perfect
- Use emotion to your advantage
- Simplify your visuals
- Lean into timing
- Create curiosity or surprise
- Encourage meaningful interaction
- Tell the story, not just the headline
Instagram Post Types and Features
Emotional connection is key to a successful Instagram post. Posts that make people feel something, whether it's joy, loss, humor, or surprise, tend to do well.
Emotional connection can be sparked through various means, such as celebrating a victory, mourning a loss, or sharing love and gratitude. The most liked Instagram posts often had a clear emotional resonance.
Timing is everything when it comes to posting on Instagram. Posts that are shared during major cultural or emotional moments see massive engagement. For example, posting during a World Cup final or a personal transformation can lead to a surge in likes.
Visual simplicity or impact is another crucial aspect of a successful Instagram post. Posts that focus on a single, strong visual message tend to do better than cluttered ones. The egg, for instance, was a plain photo that still managed to rack up likes.
Relatability or authenticity is also essential for a successful Instagram post. Posts that feel real and personal tend to stop people from scrolling. Even celebrity posts that feel forced or overly produced can fall flat.
Here are some common characteristics of the most liked Instagram posts:
- Emotional connection
- Timing that matches the moment
- Visual simplicity or impact
- Relatability or authenticity
- Cultural relevance
Benefits and Impact
Analyzing the most liked posts on Instagram can reveal a wealth of information about what resonates with your audience.
By examining the most liked posts, you can understand the reason behind their popularity and adapt your content to suit your audience's interests.
The Popsters tool makes it easy to find the most liked and popular posts on Instagram pages, sort them by likes, shares, comments, or engagement rate, and filter publications by content type.
You can also use it to estimate and measure graphically several profiles or groups at the same time, analyze their activity, and select records for any period of time.
The tool's features include appending your favorite posts to Favorites, creating various lists, and exporting stats into different formats.
With the Popsters tool, you can quickly find viral posts, most discussed posts, and publications containing specific words or phrases, explore other people's groups, or your own.
Here are some of the key benefits of using the Popsters tool:
- Find the most liked and popular posts on Instagram pages
- Sort Instagram posts by likes, shares, comments, or engagement rate
- Filter publications by content type and sort
- Estimate and measure graphically several profiles or groups at the same time
- Export stats into different formats such as XLSX, PPTX, PDF
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest 1 million likes on Instagram?
The fastest post to reach 1 million likes on Instagram was achieved by Juliette Freire in just 3 minutes. This record-breaking post was set on May 4, 2021, and made Juliette a social media sensation.
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