'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Juventus - 50.1 million
Juventus saw their nine-year Serie A stranglehold come to an end this year, yet the Bianconeri seem to have a nice blend of youth and experience for the returning Massimiliano Allegri to work on.
In the 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus have arguably one of the best players to have graced the game. Meanwhile, the likes of Federico Chiesa and Leonardo Bonucci, who impressed in Italy's victorious campaign at Euro 2020, and the excellent Matthijs de Ligt are exciting options to have on the roster.
The presence of Ronaldo means Juventus are the most followed Italian club on Instagram, with an impressive 50 million followers on the platform.
However, off the field, Allegri has work to do to return Juventus to title-winning ways and end their long drought in the Champions League. The Bianconeri were overreliant on Ronaldo for goals last season, struggled for creativity in the middle third and conceded far too many goals for their liking.
#2 Barcelona - 98.7 million
Barcelona are one of the most followed football clubs on social media, especially on Instagram, where they have close to 100 million followers.
After enduring a first trophyless campaign in more than a decade last year, Ronald Koeman's men won the Copa Del Rey and fell just short in a close three-horse La Liga title race after an underwhelming start last season.
Their all-time top scorer Lionel Messi is now a free agent after running out of a contract this summer. But the Blaugrana are expected to continue their association with the player, after Messi famously expressed his desire to leave the club last summer.
Koeman's team remains a work in progress, though, and will need more players to come to the fore and take the pressure off Messi if they hope to have a more consistent season in 2021-22.
#1 Real Madrid - 101 million
Real Madrid are the first club to record over 100 million followers on Instagram, narrowly edging out their arch-rivals Barcelona.
The Merengues finished two points short of eventual La Liga champions Atletico Madrid and reached their first Champions League semi-finals in three years in 20-21.
Karim Benzema has admirably stepped up after the departure of the club's record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2018.
However, with the departure of their long-standing captain Sergio Ramos and the imminent exit of defensive lynchpin Raphael Varane, new manager Carlo Ancelotti has his hands full. The likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are still going strong, but both players are on the wrong side of 30.
Real Madrid need an injection of youth to become a force to be reckoned with. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic wrecking the club's finances, Los Blancos are unlikely to make too many big-money signings this summer.
The record La Liga champions are tough to beat, thanks to their newfound defensive solidity. However, Real Madrid are unlikely to win the 2021-22 La Liga title if they do not address their goalscoring upfront and inject some pace and creativity in the middle third of the pitch.
