Highlights
- Kerala freestyle footballer Muhammed Riswan is among the 25 winners of the Instagram Rings Award 2026.
- Indian model Bhavitha Mandava and Indian-American comedian Pooja Tripathi are also among this year's honorees.
- Riswan shot to fame with a football trick-shot video filmed at Keralamkundu Waterfall in Malappuram, which has attracted more than 600 million views.
A freestyle footballer from Kerala has earned global recognition after being named one of the winners of Instagram's Rings Award 2026. Muhammed Riswan is among 25 creators selected worldwide. Indian model Bhavitha Mandava and Indian-American comedian and content creator Pooja Tripathi are also among this year's honorees.
The annual recognition program celebrates creators who push creative boundaries and make an impact through originality, regardless of their follower count.
Launched in October 2025, the Instagram Rings Awards recognize people who use the platform to bring communities together through their creativity.
Who is Muhammed Riswan?
Muhammed Riswan is a freestyle footballer from Kerala who became an internet sensation in November 2023 after sharing a video of himself kicking a soccer ball into a waterfall.
Filmed at Keralamkundu Waterfall in Malappuram, Kerala, the trick shot quickly went viral, eventually attracting more than 600 million views.
Speaking about the unexpected response, Riswan told Telangana Today that he initially uploaded the video simply for fun with his friends.
"I never expected this to happen. It was just a fun video with friends. Within 10 minutes, it had around 2,00,000 views, and by the time I got home, it had already hit a million," he said.
The video also earned recognition from Guinness World Records in January 2024.
Riswan has since built a substantial following on Instagram, where he currently has around 2.7 million followers. His content showcases freestyle football skills performed at different locations, helping him reach audiences beyond India.
Bhavitha Mandava and Pooja Tripathi also make the list
Riswan is joined by Bhavitha Mandava, an Indian model who has gained international recognition through her work with luxury fashion house Chanel.
Pooja Tripathi, an Indian-American comedian and content creator based in New York, is also among the 25 winners. Her recognition highlights the range of creative voices represented in this year's awards, which span different backgrounds and content categories.
Why did Muhammed Riswan win the Instagram Rings Award?
Instagram recognized Riswan for combining his football skills with his cultural identity and distinctive creative style.
In its announcement, the platform described him as a Kerala footballer whose gravity-defying skills and 600 million Reel views had taken him from local pitches to a global audience.
The company also highlighted how he blends his Malayalam roots with freestyle football, taking the sport to landmarks and screens around the world.
Another factor behind his recognition was his independent journey. Instagram noted that Riswan had built his career without agents or conventional pathways, becoming one of India's leading freestyle football ambassadors while securing international brand partnerships.
What do Instagram Rings Award winners receive?
The 25 winners will receive several physical and digital benefits.
Each creator will get a physical ring featuring a four-leaf clover design carved from Kanemara marble.
They will also be able to customize the background color of their Instagram profiles. In addition, winners will receive a custom gold-colored ring around their Instagram Stories instead of the standard pink-and-gold ring.
For Riswan, the recognition marks another milestone in a journey that began with a football trick shot at a waterfall in Kerala and grew into an international creative career.
