Lionel Messi’s World Cup post from 18 December 2022 is reportedly at the top of the public ranking of the most liked Instagram posts with approximately 74 to 75 million likes. That does not make this a verified top 10 for 2026. Therefore, always check when the likes were counted before considering a ranking current.
Read below what the ranking tells us, how to check the figures and which ideas you can use for your own posts.
What Is Known About the Top 10 Instagram Posts in 2026?
For places two through ten, there is no confirmed order with like counts from the same date here. A complete top 10 with fixed positions would therefore suggest too much certainty.
Also consider what “in 2026” means. The most liked posts of all time may have been published years ago. A list containing only posts shared in 2026 therefore gives a different answer.
Are you looking for the famous egg or a particular Reel, a short video on Instagram? Being well known does not mean that a post has a fixed place in the top 10. To establish that, you must compare the likes of all posts on the same date. The number of times a video has been viewed is also different from the number of likes.
Want to know more about the leader? Read more about the most liked Instagram post.
Why Do Some Instagram Posts Get So Many Likes?
The number of likes does not show why people tapped the heart. You therefore cannot infer exactly what made a post so popular. However, you can look at choices that may make a photo or video appealing:
- A recognisable moment. With a major sporting victory, many people immediately understand what there is to celebrate.
- A simple idea. An image such as an egg needs little explanation. It shows how simple a subject can be, but does not prove that simplicity always generates many likes.
- A clear progression. A short video can spark curiosity by showing an action first and the result afterwards.
- A recognisable face. A famous person has a different audience from someone who mainly shares photos with friends.
The last point in particular makes comparisons difficult. The number of likes received by a global star is not a useful target for your own holiday photo. Want to know more about large accounts? See who has the most followers on Instagram. Having many followers and publishing a popular post are not the same thing.
What Can You Learn from Highly Liked Instagram Posts?
Choose one idea that suits your own post instead of copying a popular post completely. First consider what you want someone to notice about your photo or video. Then choose images and a short text that show it.
These fictional examples show how you could approach it:
| Your own post | What you could try | Why that choice fits |
|---|---|---|
| A photo after your first running race | Choose a photo that clearly shows your happiness. Briefly write what this finish means to you. | The photo and text tell one clear story together. |
| A Reel in which you decorate a cake | Show the decorating first and then the whole cake. | The viewer can follow the action and the result. |
| A photo of a rainy day in Ghent | Choose one striking detail, such as colourful umbrellas in a square. | You give the photo a clear subject. |
Then compare a few similar posts of your own. For example, compare photos with other photos and give them the same amount of time to collect likes. One post with noticeably many likes says little about how your next post will perform.
Would you also like to try whether the time of sharing makes a difference? Then read about the best time to post Reels. Trying a different time does not guarantee many likes.
How Do You Check a Ranking of Instagram Likes?
According to the explanation of Instagram rankings by BusinessStats Instagram does not publish an official leaderboard, and figures for very large posts are estimates. Therefore, regard a public list as a snapshot of one moment.
Check these points before sharing a top 10:
- Find the reference date. This is the date on which the figures were checked. A year alone in the title is not enough.
- Check which posts count. Does it concern all posts, photos only or Reels only?
- Check what was counted. A list of the number of times videos were viewed is not a list of likes.
- Find the original post. A link to the post helps you check which post it concerns.
- Watch out for rounded figures. Two figures may appear equal after rounding, while the actual number of likes differs.
Are you sharing a ranking yourself? Then mention the reference date and add “approximately” to rounded figures. This makes clear how precise the figures are. If you are also considering paid options, our Instagram services lets you compare packages for likes and followers, including the available quantities and prices.
