The Men's FIFA World Cup stands as the most-watched and widely followed sporting event globally, with its prize money towering at nearly nine times that of the Men's Cricket World Cup. Despite this disparity, the Men's Cricket World Cup and the Australian Cricket Team have achieved remarkable feats that remain unmatched—not only in FIFA World Cup history but also in the realms of both the Cricket World Cup and the T20 World Cup. Interestingly, the two most successful nations in these prestigious tournaments, Brazil in football and Australia in cricket, share a striking similarity beyond their dominance: both don the iconic yellow jersey, a symbol of their unparalleled success on the global stage !! Cricket’s Global Reach Surpasses FIFA and the Olympics Unlike the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics, which have yet to be hosted across all six populated continents, both the Cricket World Cup and the T20 World Cup (Men’s) have achieved this milestone. No African nation has hosted the Summer Olympics, and the Men’s FIFA World Cup has yet to venture into the Oceania region (Australia and New Zealand). Australia’s Global Supremacy vs. Brazil’s Football Legacy Brazil is most successful team in FIFA World Cup, securing five titles across four continents—Europe, North America, Asia, and South America. However, the Australian cricket team has taken global dominance a step further, winning six ODI World Cups across all six continents. Unparalleled Streak: Australia’s Consecutive Finals and Titles The Australian cricket team boasts a historic achievement no footballing nation has replicated—reaching four consecutive Cricket World Cup finals (1996, 1999, 2003, 2007) and winning three in a row (1999, 2003, 2007). Even Brazil, with three FIFA World Cup titles in 12 years (1958, 1962, 1970), has not matched Australia’s streak of consecutive victories. This level of sustained success remains an elusive feat in football and is unlikely to be replicated in the foreseeable future across Cricket World Cups, T20 World Cups, or FIFA World Cups. Pele vs. Australia’s Cricket Icons While Pele remains the most successful footballer with three FIFA World Cup gold medals, several Australian cricketers have equalled this milestone in the ODI World Cup, courtesy of Australia’s dominance from 1999 to 2007. However, Pele falls short of what Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting have accomplished. Both players appeared in four consecutive finals and triumphed in three. No footballer, including Pele, has managed to play in and win three FIFA World Cup finals. Despite his three gold medals, Pele featured in only two finals (1958 and 1970), missing the 1962 final due to injury. Statistical Brilliance: McGrath and Ponting vs. Pele • Pele scored three goals across two FIFA World Cup finals (1958, 1970), while Glenn McGrath took six wickets across three victorious Cricket World Cup finals (1999, 2003, 2007). • Ricky Ponting remains the only player to be productive in four consecutive Cricket World Cup finals (1996-2007), producing scores of 45, 24, 140*, and 37. Australia’s Cricket Dominance in the 21st Century Since the turn of the millennium, both the FIFA World Cup and Cricket World Cup have been held six times. In football, six different nations have claimed the title, demonstrating a level of unpredictability. In contrast, Australia has asserted its dominance, winning four of the six Cricket World Cups (2003, 2007, 2015, 2023), with only India (2011) and England (2019) momentarily breaking their stranglehold on the trophy. Australia’s unparalleled achievements in cricket set a benchmark for sustained excellence, placing them in a league of their own, beyond even the historic feats of football’s greatest teams. Despite its remarkable achievements, the Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cup still lag significantly behind the FIFA World Cup in terms of global reach and viewership. However, the shorter T20 format possesses the potential to become one of the most-watched sporting events worldwide, provided the ICC adopts a structure similar to FIFA's premier tournament and moves beyond India-Pakistan encounters. Expanding the Men's T20 World Cup to 32 or 48 teams, with a format featuring eight groups, a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final, could enhance its global appeal. Furthermore, ensuring representation from all continents—including dedicated separate qualification slots for North and South America, would foster greater international participation. To elevate the tournament’s stature, the ICC should also consider significantly increasing prize. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from IPL 2025,IPL Orange Cap, IPL Purple Cap, Most Sixes in IPL, Cricket, Sports and around the world.