Watch: "Biggest brand of FIFA" — Shoaib Akhtar mocks Messi vs Ronaldo GOAT debate, faces backlash

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has gone viral after saying Cristiano Ronaldo is the "biggest brand of FIFA" while discussing the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT debate during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final coverage. Akhtar made the remarks as a pundit on Tapmad and PTV's panel for the Argentina vs Spain final on Sunday (July 19). His comments quickly sparked reactions on social media, with many fans criticising his take.

It is not every day that a cricket legend appears on a football World Cup panel, and Akhtar's presence itself became a talking point online. During the discussion, he shared his views on the long-running GOAT debate between Messi and Ronaldo. Akhtar said Ronaldo has been football's biggest commercial brand over the last decade, while adding that Messi is still a level above him in terms of pure footballing ability.

Despite praising both football stars, Akhtar's explanation did not impress many viewers. Several fans trolled him on social media, questioning both his appearance on the football panel and his opinion on the GOAT debate. His remarks have since gone viral, with the clip being widely shared across social media platforms.

Watch the viral video here:

Former Pakistan pacer's blunt take on football's biggest rivalry during FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage 

Shoaib Akhtar appeared as a guest pundit during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final coverage on PTV Sports through Tapmad. The former Pakistan fast bowler joined the panel to discuss the biggest names in world football and shared his views on the long-running Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT debate.

During the discussion, Akhtar said Cristiano Ronaldo has been football's biggest commercial brand over the past decade. However, he added that Lionel Messi is on a different level when it comes to pure footballing ability. His comments quickly became one of the biggest talking points from the broadcast.

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Akhtar's appearance on the football panel surprised many viewers, and clips from the show soon went viral on social media. While some fans appreciated his passion for football and supported his views, others questioned why a former cricketer was part of the coverage for football's biggest match.

"There has never been a bigger brand" — Here's the full story of what Shoaib Akhtar said

During the discussion on PTV Sports via Tapmad, Shoaib Akhtar praised Cristiano Ronaldo's commercial impact, saying, "There has never been a bigger brand in football than Cristiano Ronaldo. Whether you agree or not, that's the reality." He added that Ronaldo has been one of FIFA's biggest commercial assets and that the sport and many leagues have benefited from his global appeal over the last decade.

Akhtar then explained why he still rates Lionel Messi as the better footballer. "When you judge them purely as footballers, it's a different discussion. Messi is on another level," he said. He also praised Messi's mentality, adding, "Just watch the way Messi plays. He gets knocked over, gets back up and keeps going. That's what makes him different."

See also -Cricketing Fraternity reacts to Spain beating Argentina 1-0 to win FIFA World Cup 2026

The former Pakistan fast bowler also recalled Pep Guardiola's famous observation about Messi's game. "Guardiola 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," Akhtar said. 

His remarks quickly went viral on social media, with football fans debating his views while many cricket fans questioned why a former cricketer was part of the FIFA World Cup final panel.

Cricket fans ask "Why is he even on a football panel?" as Akhtar's remarks take over social media

Shoaib Akhtar's appearance on the FIFA World Cup 2026 final panel sparked mixed reactions on social media. While some viewers appreciated his passion for football, many questioned why a former cricketer was part of the coverage for the biggest match in world football. Others also mocked his comments on the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT debate. Check out some of the reactions below.

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the FIFA World Cup for the second time. Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute with a brilliant left-footed finish. Spain also had a goal by Nico Williams ruled out in the first half of extra time for a foul in the build-up, while the match remained goalless after 90 minutes.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made 11 saves, the most by a goalkeeper in a FIFA World Cup final. Argentina were also reduced to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez received a red card late in the second half, making their task even more difficult before Ferran Torres scored the title-winning goal.