The most liked Instagram post ever is Lionel Messi unseating an egg

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In two days, Lionel Messi’s “World Champions” post has garnered more than 70 million likes. The previous record was held for almost four years by @world_record_egg, which gained 54 million likes till 2019. There’s a Discord server for the “Egg Gang” that remains active to this day.

In fact, as the likes on Messi’s photo ticked into the 40 million range, some egg-likers strategically chose to unlike the egg to help him come out on top. The effect was likely negligible, though it spoke to the passion of his supporters.

What lessons can we learn from this passing of the torch? First, obviously, that soccer really is the most popular sport in the world. But also that nothing is permanent online — nor should it be. The beauty of the egg’s four-year reign as king of Instagram is that it came to an end, in such a thrilling moment of celebration and community.

And Messi should keep that in mind. For he cannot sit on the throne without challenges on all sides. They will come, and on a day that is distant to us now, one will prevail. Enjoy the view from up there while you can.