“If Messi was Iraqi, he would not win the Best Player in Asia award!” (video)

Iraqi football legend Nashat Akram sparked widespread controversy with his angry statement that he did not receive the Best Player in Asia award in 2007, stressing that he was more deserving of it than the Saudi star Yasser Al-Qahtani at that time, while Nashat Akram won second place, and his compatriot Younis Mahmoud third place.

Nashat Akram said to the Majlis program broadcast on the Qatari Al-Douri and Al-Kas channel: “The Best Player in Asia award in 2007 was stolen from me… I was the Asian champion, the best player in two matches in the tournament, including the final match, and also the best player in 4 matches in the AFC Champions League.”

Council programme
Nashat Akram: The Best Player in Asia award has been stolen from me
Even if Iraq had ‘Messi’, he would not get the title of the best in Asia because we have no influence in the Asian Union#Arab_Cup2025#Cass_channels | #Show_platform#Al-Kas_Channel_Council pic.twitter.com/wEV9hmvhOU

– Al Kass Channels (@AlkassTVSports) December 6, 2025

The former Iraqi star explained: “I was the best in numbers, but I did not have influence in the Asian Football Confederation, and I assure you from here, even after 20 years, if (Lionel) Messi obtains Iraqi citizenship, he will not get the award.”

He continued: “I am not sad that Yasser Al-Qahtani was crowned with the award. He deserves it. I congratulated him and shook his hand on the stage when he was crowned, and I told him that he deserved to win it. It did not go to a player who did not deserve it, but one person should have won the award, either me or Younis Mahmoud. In numbers, we were the best.”

It is noteworthy that the Iraqi national team won the Asian Nations Cup for the first time in its history in 2007, after defeating the Saudi national team in the final match with a goal by Younis Mahmoud.