Top 10 Cricketers with their Football Equivalents

Top 10 Cricketers with their Football Equivalents: Cricket and Football are equally high spirited game and both deliver intense adrenaline rushes to their respective audiences in their own possible manners. Both Cricket and Football fall under a broader niche, which we call Sport. Now, let us enhance our imaginative powers to couple these two sports in some order. And the idea that comes up is to list up the cricketers who are quite much equivalent and similar to footballers based on their stature, attitude and other factors. Here goes the list of Top 10 Cricketers with their Football Equivalents : 1 – Virat Kohli and Christiano Ronaldo: Virat Kohli and Christiano Ronaldo. (© Getty Images) Apart from endorsing for the same herbal brand, these two sportsmen have loads of other similarities too. At present, both are having their peak time in their respective careers. Both tend to win matches for their respective teams and their playing style is something which is brilliantly unique and is a treat to watch. Both of them come good in big matches. Also, both have girlfriends who belong to the film industry. However, Ronaldo broke up with Irina Shayk of late and Virat Kohli is married with bollywood star Anushka Sharma. And lastly the thing that equates the two is perhaps the fact that both are much prone to controversies for their actions. 2 – AB de Villiers and Lionel Messi: AB de Villiers and Lionel Messi. (© Getty Images) Both have been the architects in their respective spheres. AB de Villiers is simply a class apart in Cricket and the same goes for Lionel Messi in football. While de Villiers is famous for his mid-boggling shots and acrobatic fielding, Messi is known for his signature free-kick and his ability to pierce through the gaps in the field. Also, both are pretty much passionate and have ample of qualities. 3 – Sourav Ganguly and Zinedine Zidane: Sourav Ganguly and Zinedine Zidane. (© Getty Images) Well this kind of equivalency might surprise a few as there are not many similarities between the two. Yet, if things are viewed through a broader angle, they have a lot in common. It was under Ganguly’s leadership that India emerged to be one of the toughest sides to beat and same goes for Zidane’s French side in 1998 World Cup. Both led their sides as an example. And co-incidentally, both made their comebacks in 2006. Ganguly returned to the national team after being dropped and Zidane took down his retirement and played in 2006 World Cup. Also, both were pretty much aggressive in their respective approach and were brilliant players. Zidane’s drills and passes were phenomenal and Ganguly is regarded as the God of Off-side. To sum it up, both were the heroes their respective sport deserved, not the ones it needed. 4 – Rohit Sharma and Thomas Mueller: Rohit Sharma and Thomas Mueller. (© Getty Images) There is an interesting similarity between the two. None of them seem to pose much threat to their oppositions but on their days, they simply destruct the oppositions. The inclusion of both the players in their respective teams has been questioned many a times, yet their respective captains have immense faith upon them due to their sheer possession of talent. They can change the course of the respective matches in a single handed fashion. Also, both are holder of some decent international records. Both Rohit and Muller have leadership qualities among themselves. After winning 5 IPL trophies with MI, Rohit Shamra is currently the all-format skipper of Team India. While Muller has not become skipper for his Bayern Munich club or Germany National Team. But, he has always shown leadership qualities both on and off the field to set an example. 5 – Sachin Tendulkar and Pele: Sachin Tendulkar and Pele. (© Getty Images) Undoubtedly, both players are compared to Gods in their respective sports. It has been over 45 years since Pele retired from international football yet till date, footballers are compared with him. Both have achieved several milestones in their career and have been pretty much disciplined as a person throughout their lives. Both have tasted the epitome of success in their respective fields. There was a time when Brazilian team could not be imagined without Pele and the same goes for Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar’s importance to the Indian team during the late 90s and after. 6 – Chris Gayle and Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Chris Gayle and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. (© Getty Images) Each of them produces something unbelievable and unimaginable on the field. Like there are no comparisons for the back-volleys and other stunning shots of Zlatan. The similar is applicable to Christopher Henry Gayle’s brute force alike batting instinct. Both provide entertainment at it’s peak and the attitude of being the best in the business draws them closer. Also, on a lighter note, their off-field interactions and celebrations can also be related. Both live their lives in somewhat like King Sized. Zlatan announced his retirment from Football in 2023. However, Gayle has not announced retirement from any format so far. Both these players have always shown a great character and managed to entertain fans. 7 – Brendon McCullum and Oliver Kahn: Brendon McCullum and Oliver Kahn. (© Getty Images) The attitude of never giving up and keep on fighting even after defeat seems inevitable bind the two greats of their respective games in a closer symmetry. Another remarkable co-incidence is the fact that Oliver Kahn stood out to be the most remarkable goalie in 2002 World Cup and led Germany right from the front but Germany lost the final due to a mistake committed by him. In 2015 World Cup, McCullum led his side as an example and was ecstatic throughout the tournament. But he was dismissed for a duck in the World Cup final, which eventually proved out to be the turning point of the final. 8 – MS Dhoni and Iker Casillas: MS Dhoni and Iker Casillas. (© Getty Images) When success and leadership is considered as parameters, these two fall under the same enclosure. Casillas led Spain to World Cup victory in 2010 and Dhoni led India to World Cup triumph in 2011. During their days as captains, their respective sides seem to possess indomitable strengths. Also, both of them has been quite much passionate for their games and backed up the team members during their bad times. Also, both form the safest pair of hands. Dhoni is perhaps the best wicket keeper at present and Casillas has been one of the greatest goalies of all time. Both these players took retirement in August 2020 from their respective sports. But, fans always enjoyed their presence on the field due to their immense contribution to their respective teams throughtout their illustrative careers. 9 – Suresh Raina and Bastian Schweinsteiger: Suresh Raina and Bastian Schweinsteiger. (© Getty Images) When it comes to lifting up the team’s spirit, there are no one better than these two in their respective fields. Also, each of them forms a pivotal character for their respective teams. The batting and fielding departments of India and CSK are pretty much dependant over him. Similarly, the mid field gaming of Germany and Bayern Munich are relied on Schweinsteiger to a considerable extent. Another crucial fact that makes them equivalent is their sportsmanship and the sense of respect for the opposition players. They possess true sporting spirit in their games. Bastian Schweinstieger announced his retirement from professional football in 2019 while Suresh Raina took retirement in 2022. Currently, Raina has been looking to play in different fracnhsie T20 leagues across the world. 10 – Kevin Pietersen and David Beckham: Kevin Pietersen and David Beckham. (© Getty Images) One can easily link the two by their craze and their style statement. But apart from these, both of them have played crucial roles for their national team i.e. England in cricket and football respectively. A negative fact which brings them closer is that both have not been much of successful as captains of their respective national sides. Each of them possessed a distinct and unique style of play in the respective sport. Finally, what makes them equivalent is that both could have a longer international career which got shortened due to injuries and other factors.