TThe NBA is in the final stages of its season. This leaves each team focused on securing the best possible position in their respective conferences, which is why tensions continue to rise across every franchise.
But there is also a growing sense in the sports world that the world’s biggest soccer extravaganza will be held across North America in just a few months.
That expectation has reached NBA locker rooms, where players themselves are starting to talk about it. One of them is Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, who has a deep understanding of soccer as a European.
Historical comparison of NBA players and global soccer stars
The engines are getting hotter and hotter in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup. Play-off games begin this Thursday, March 26, 2026, some of which will be played in Mexico, sparking excitement among fans of the most widely played sport on the planet.
To this end, Doncic compared NBA players to world soccer players, matching them according to the skills that define the game’s greatest representatives.
In this day and age, the two biggest sporting icons are undoubtedly Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Both are nearing the end of their careers, and those who got to see them play were lucky.
With that in mind, Luka placed them based on what he believes to be their equivalents on the NBA court.
Erling Haaland: Kevin Durant Cristiano Ronaldo: LeBron James Lionel Messi: Michael Jordan Kylian Mbappe: Nikola Jokic Vinicius Jr.: Stephen Curry
Each has unique characteristics. LeBron, like Ronaldo in soccer, is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, and both have pursued historic milestones, including a bid for his 1,000th goal, with Ronaldo currently nearing 965 goals.
Although his Airness Michael Jordan has won six NBA championships, Messi’s quality on the pitch remains unparalleled and admired around the world.
This debate will go on forever, but what is undeniable is that all of Doncic’s chosen players will soon be showcasing their best talents to the delight of soccer fans around the world.
Essentially, this comparison reflects how we can understand the greatness of different styles across sports, drawing similarities in leadership, consistency, and influence without changing the original meaning of each athlete’s tradition.
It also highlights the cultural bridge between basketball and soccer, two disciplines that inspire millions of people around the world, especially as the World Cup approaches and attracts global attention.
