Shoaib Akhtar claims he would have been a football star had he not chosen cricket
Fast bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar has jokingly compared himself to Brazilian football icon Ronaldo Nazario, suggesting that he could have carved out a career on the football pitch resembling the style of the man widely known as R9.
Akhtar, known for his pace and aggression on the cricket field, claims that had he truly run at full speed on a football field, both Nazario and Cristiano Ronaldo would have struggled to keep up with him.
"I would have been like Nazário. R9," Shoaib said in an interview. "And brother, if I ran properly, then R9, CR7 would be left behind. By the way, if I think about Shoaib bhai, I am reminded of Zidane too. I would have hit a lot! I would have broken many legs!"
Akhtar reserved praise for Lionel Messi, calling him "arguably the greatest footballer to ever walk the planet." He pointed to Messi's eight Ballon d'Or awards and a staggering trophy count of 48 across his career.
The Pakistan legend also expressed admiration for Spain's 2026 World Cup performance, describing their overall composition, tactical setup and in-game adjustments as outstanding throughout.
Akhtar's comparison to Ronaldo Nazario makes for an entertaining soundbite, but it also reflects something fairly common among elite athletes: the tendency to imagine themselves succeeding in a completely different sport purely based on raw physical attributes like speed or aggression.
However, translating express pace with a cricket ball into elite football skill is a much bigger leap than these light-hearted comparisons suggest. Technical ability, ball control and years of specialised training matter just as much as raw athleticism.
For Akhtar, the comparison also highlights his admiration for football's global appeal, which he attributes to legendary players like Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. "Everyone enjoyed it, man, over these legends," he said.
Source: Yahoo Sports
