Cricket fans brutally troll Shoaib Akhtar over his views on Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate

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Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar found himself at the center of social media attention after appearing as a pundit during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain. While the match ended with Spain clinching a narrow 1-0 victory to lift the trophy, much of the online conversation shifted towards Akhtar’s passionate take on the long-standing Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate. Cricket fans, surprised to see the legendary fast bowler discussing football, flooded social media with humorous memes and reactions, with many playfully trolling him over his appearance on the football panel.

Speaking on the Tapmad and PTV broadcast ahead of the World Cup final, Akhtar first praised Ronaldo for the enormous impact he has had on the sport from a commercial perspective. According to Akhtar, there has never been a bigger football brand than Ronaldo. He argued that FIFA, various leagues, and football competitions have benefited immensely from Ronaldo’s global popularity over the last decade, describing the Portuguese icon as one of the sport’s greatest marketing figures.

“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 enjoyed. For the last 10 years, FIFA has sold him. Leagues have marketed themselves through him as well,” said Akhtar.

However, Akhtar made it clear that while Ronaldo’s influence off the pitch is unmatched, he believes Messi stands on an entirely different level when it comes to footballing ability. He explained that although Ronaldo’s achievements deserve immense respect, Messi’s understanding of the game, movement, and ability to dictate play make him a unique player. Akhtar even stated that Ronaldo is “nowhere close” to Messi in terms of football, emphasizing the Argentine’s extraordinary influence whenever he is on the field.

“Now, if you look at Lionel Messi… I know I’m being a bit blunt here. But Messi is the biggest… yes, he’s on another level. Ronaldo is nowhere close to Messi in terms of football. Just watch Messi’s gravitational pull on the pitch. He gets knocked down, gets back up, and keeps going. Ronaldo is incredible too, look at the work he has done. But again, Messi is different,” added Akhtar.

The former Pakistan pacer went on to describe what, in his opinion, separates Messi from every other footballer. Akhtar highlighted Messi’s ability to absorb challenges, recover instantly, and continue controlling matches with remarkable composure. He also recalled a famous observation attributed to former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, who had reportedly suggested that Messi often spends much of a game quietly studying the opposition before unleashing his best football in the closing stages.

According to Akhtar, Messi’s habit of “walking and scanning” the pitch allows him to map out the game before making decisive contributions. He added that once opponents try to provoke or pressure Messi late in the contest, the Argentine responds by showcasing his extraordinary talent.

“And even today he is still fighting and competing. Why do people keep provoking him? What’s the point? Once you get him going, he responds. His manager used to say something interesting… what was his name? The former Barcelona manager… Guardiola. He used to say Messi spends the first 75 minutes just walking around and scanning the game. He maps everything out first. Then, once you disturb him around the 75th minute, he shows you what he’s really made of,” explained the former Pakistan fast bowler.

Shoaib Akhtar on Ronaldo and Messi.

– This is absolute cinema. 😂🔥

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) July 19, 2026

Also READ: Shoaib Akhtar questions Babar Azam’s “Superstar” status ahead of West Indies tour

While football fans debated Akhtar’s comparison between Messi and Ronaldo, cricket followers took a different approach. Many users joked about seeing one of cricket’s fastest bowlers analysing football on television, with witty comments quickly spreading across social media platforms. Some fans humorously claimed they never expected Akhtar to become a football analyst, while others poked fun at the confidence with which he broke down the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry. Several users also joked that the Rawalpindi Express had switched sports after entertaining cricket fans for years.

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