Former Pakistani fast bowler -Shoaib Akhtar Found himself at the center of social media attention after appearing as a pundit during fifa world cup 2026 last between argentina And spain. While the match ended with Spain winning a close 1-0 victory and winning the trophy, much of the online conversation focused on Akhtar’s long-standing emotional stance. Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo Discussion. Cricket fans who were surprised to see the legendary fast bowler discussing football flooded social media with humorous memes and reactions, with many even jokingly trolling him over his appearance on the football panel.
Speaking on TapeMad and PTV broadcast before the World Cup final, Akhtar first praised Ronaldo for his tremendous impact on the game from a business perspective. According to Akhtar, there has never been a bigger football brand than Ronaldo. He argued that FIFA, various leagues and football competitions have greatly benefited from Ronaldo’s global popularity over the past decade, describing the Portuguese icon as one of the sport’s greatest marketing figures.
Akhtar said, “There has never been a bigger brand in football than Cristiano Ronaldo. Take it or leave it. He is probably the biggest brand FIFA has ever had. For the last 10 years, FIFA has sold him. The league has also done its marketing through him.”
Akhtar chose Lionel Messi as his goat
However, Akhtar clarified that while Ronaldo’s impact off the field is unmatched, he believes Messi stands on a completely different level when it comes to footballing ability. He pointed out that while Ronaldo’s achievements deserve immense respect, Messi’s understanding of the game, movement and ability to direct the game make him a unique player. Akhtar even said that Ronaldo is “nowhere close” to Messi in terms of football, stressing that the Argentine has an extraordinary impact whenever he is on the field.
“Now, if you look at Lionel Messi… I know I’m being a bit obvious here. But Messi is the greatest… Yes, he’s on another level. Ronaldo is not even close to Messi in terms of football. Just look at Messi’s gravity on the field. He falls down, gets up again and keeps going. Ronaldo is incredible too, look at the work he does. But again, Messi is different.” Added Akhtar.
The former Pakistan fast bowler further explained what, in his opinion, sets Messi apart from every other footballer. Akhtar highlighted Messi’s ability to rise to challenges, recover quickly and control matches with remarkable composure. He also recalled a famous observation from former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, who reportedly suggested that Messi often spent much of the game quietly studying the opponent before showing his best football in the final stages.
According to Akhtar, Messi’s habit of “moving and scanning” the pitch allows him to map out the game before making a decisive contribution. He said that once opponents try to provoke or put pressure on Messi towards the end of the competition, the Argentinian responds by showcasing his extraordinary talent.
“And even today he’s fighting and competing. Why do people keep booing him? What do you mean? Once you let him go, he answers. His manager used to say something interesting… What was his name? Former Barcelona manager… Guardiola. He used to say that Messi spends the first 75 minutes just walking around and scanning the game. He figures everything out first. Then, once you bother him around the 75th minute, he tells you Shows what he’s really made of,” The former Pakistan fast bowler explained.
Here is the video:
Shoaib Akhtar on Ronaldo and Messi.
– This is complete cinema. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/JceraljjgI
– Sherry. (@CallMeSheri1_) 19 July 2026
Also read: Shoaib Akhtar questions Babar Azam’s “superstar” status before West Indies tour
While football fans debated Akhtar’s comparison between Messi and Ronaldo, cricket followers took a different view. Many users joked about seeing one of cricket’s fastest bowlers analyzing football on television, and the humorous comments quickly spread across social media platforms. Some fans humorously claimed that they never thought Akhtar would become a football analyst, while others poked fun at the confidence with which he broke down the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry. Many users also joked that Rawalpindi Express has closed the game after entertaining cricket fans for years.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Also read: Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar chosen the greatest cricketer of all time