Virat Kohli placed on the same pedestal as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi in Pakistan by fiercest rival

India's star cricketer Virat Kohli is not only followed heavily in India but in the other parts of the world as well. Kohli's performances have made him a role model for the upcoming generation of players as his work ethic is closely followed.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir hailed Virat Kohli and compared him with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Both Ronaldo and Messi are world-class footballers who are hugely followed in every corner of the world.

Kohli has a similar stature in the world of cricket and is also seen as the game's brand ambassador. Amir feels that Kohli is an inspiration for the upcoming generation and is even followed hugely in Pakistan despite India being the rival country.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Also read: Wasim Jaffer rips apart Nasser Hussain, Pat Cummins' led advantage-India campaign with brutal sarcasm

Mohammad Amir compares Virat Kohli with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi

During a conversation with Sports Tak, Mohammad Amir was all praises for Kohli and compared him with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Amir believes that Kohli has a similar lifestyle to these two footballers and is a complete package in himself.

“Why do people love (Cristiano) Ronaldo? Why do they love (Lionel) Messi? If I talk about Ronaldo, especially, look at his lifestyle. Look at his charity work, his work ethic, and his fitness. He is a complete package. Likewise, Virat Kohli is a complete package," Amir said.

Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the legendary football players of this generation. Ronaldo and Messi are the top two most followed athletes on Instagram while Kohli is third on the list, making him the most followed cricketer on the planet currently.

"Virat Kohli is an inspiration" - Mohammad Amir

In the same conversation, Mohammad Amir called Kohli "a complete package" and claimed that he is a role model in Pakistan as well. He feels that an inspiration doesn't need to be from any particular country and Kohli is a prime example of that.

"Why is he (Kohli) a role model for many, even in Pakistan? The country doesn't matter. Whether he is from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, or England, a role model can be from anywhere. For this generation, Virat Kohli is an inspiration,” observed Amir.

“All those youngsters who want to be cricketers, who want to be batters, should follow Virat Kohli's footsteps,” he added.

Kohli has achieved some unprecedented things in his career and has made himself one of the best this game has ever seen. His numbers are excellent in every format, although they have dipped a little in the Test format currently.

However, the 36-year-old has shown in his career that he is a fighter and knows how to perform in adverse situations. He remains a dangerous white-ball player and will be looking to contribute as much as he can in the remaining years of his career.

Virat Kohli's knock vs Pakistan in CT 2025

Kohli recently smashed a match-winning hundred against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. He wasn't in great form with the bat but ensured to produce his best in a big game against the arch-rivals.

The right-hander struck an unbeaten 100 off 111 balls with 7 fours. His innings was filled with low-risk yet eye-catching strokes as he took India to the target with ease. He has scored 122 runs in two matches so far at an average of 122 and a strike rate of 81.87.