Afridi featured on FIFA’s Instagram alongside legends who wear the iconic No. 10 jersey.
In a jaw-dropping crossover between cricket and football, FIFA has named Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi among the world’s most iconic athletes — placing him shoulder to shoulder with Messi, Neymar, and Modrić.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has paid a rare tribute to Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, featuring him in a star-studded post that celebrates the legendary jersey number 10.

The official Instagram account of the FIFA World Cup posted a graphic highlighting legendary athletes known for donning the number 10 — including Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Neymar Jr, and notably, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The caption read simply but powerfully: “The iconic.”
This unprecedented recognition by one of the world’s biggest sporting platforms signals Shaheen’s rising status as a global sports icon. He now shares symbolic ground with some of the greatest names in football — all tied together by the magic of jersey number 10.
