MrBeast prepared to draft Lionel Messi into YouTube battle with Cristiano Ronaldo – as Al-Nassr superstar poses considerable threat to subscriber record

Jimmy Donaldson, who goes by the name of MrBeast online, has topped the charts when it comes to the most-subscribed YouTube channel since June 1. He boasts 318 million followers, allowing some eye-watering figures to be generated from advertising revenue.

Ronaldo – who owns the most-followed account on Instagram – has now expanded his social media empire into the video creation world of YouTube. The Portuguese superstar, who plays his club football in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr, broke the record for fastest growth in a single month when launching his UR Cristiano channel – an honour that MrBeast previously held.

Donaldson has told Logan Paul’s IMPAULSIVE podcast of the threat that Ronaldo poses to his other entries in the record books: “I broke the world record for most subs in a month, and two months later, Ronaldo comes on.” He admits that CR7 is “crushing” it on YouTube and that “if there were someone who would pass me, it would be Ronaldo.”

MrBeast will not be backing down without a fight, though, and has teased that he would like to bring Ronaldo’s eternal rival into his corner, saying “if [I’ve] got to do a Messi collab” in order to remain in front, then that is what he will look to do.

Ronaldo is closing in on the 64m subscriber mark, so has some way to go before claiming to have MrBeast in his sights. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has, however, proved over the course of his remarkable sporting career that he should never be underestimated or written off.