World Cup 2026 fever grips Pakistani celebrities

Some back Messi, others cheer for Ronaldo as excitement extends far beyond football fans

KARACHI:

The excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has extended far beyond football fans, with Pakistani celebrities also joining the global celebration of the sport. From celebrating memorable victories to expressing heartbreak over defeats, stars have been actively sharing their reactions on social media while cheering for their favorite teams and players.

Following Argentina's thrilling and emotional match, actors Samar Jafri and Khaqan Shahnawaz praised Lionel Messi's outstanding performance, calling him the "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time). Both shared clips of Messi's goal on their Instagram Stories, expressing their admiration for the Argentine captain.

Actor Danish Taimoor has also been closely following the tournament, regularly sharing his thoughts on key matches. After Japan's heartbreaking exit from the World Cup, he posted an emotional message saying, "How can I explain the weight of this scene to someone who never watched football?" reflecting his disappointment over the team's elimination.

Later, when Egypt secured a place in the Round of 16, Danish shared another post applauding the Egyptian players for celebrating the historic achievement with a collective prostration (sujood), describing it as a powerful and emotional moment.

Meanwhile, actress Mawra Hocane brought the World Cup excitement into her home by sharing a lighthearted video of her husband, Ameer Gilani, passionately supporting Portugal during their match. After the game, Ameer jokingly wrote that he was "exhausted after playing the full 90 minutes," leaving fans amused.

Actor Zaviyar Ejaz also treated fans to a special World Cup moment by sharing a video of his encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo. In the clip, Ronaldo can be seen noticing Zaviyar and waving back, making it an unforgettable experience for the actor and his followers.

Singer Mani also reacted to a viral clip of Cristiano Ronaldo, suggesting that if the football icon appeared to say "Bismillah" before taking a penalty, his time living in Saudi Arabia might have influenced the moment. He, however, made it clear that he remains a devoted Ronaldo fan regardless of the footballer's religion.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to captivate audiences worldwide, Pakistani celebrities are proving that they are just as emotionally invested as millions of football fans.

Samar Jafri made his film debut in 2024 with Na Baligh Afraad, a coming-of-age comedy directed by Nabeel Qureshi and produced by Fizza Ali Meerza. In the film he portrayed Fakhar, a naive teenage boy navigating adolescence in 1990s Karachi.

Danish Taimoor began his acting career on television in 2005 with the horror drama Mystery Series, featuring in two episodes, Do Saal Baad and Dracula.