Both Messi and Ronaldo love
After the global pickleball craze, sports fans are witnessing another craze called padel, a racket sport originating from Mexico.
Padel, with an easy-to-understand Vietnamese name of “cage tennis”, is a combination of tennis and squash.
Padel courts are slightly smaller than tennis courts, and are surrounded by four glass walls. The rules of padel are similar to tennis, with the major difference being that the ball can bounce off the walls, hitting the ground once before the player returns it.
That is the key difference that makes padel “easier to play” than tennis. That is why many famous people have become fans of padel, including football superstars.
Over the past few months, the padel community has received a big boost when images of Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez… playing padel have spread widely.
Ronaldo recently attended a padel tournament in Singapore, while Messi and Suarez posted a clip of themselves playing padel and celebrating together.
Not only do they play, Messi and Ronaldo are also enthusiastic about investing in this sport. Messi and his compatriot Sergio Aguero co-own Kru Padel, the famous padel team that won the 2025 Hexagon Cup.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo recently bought the Lisboa Racket Centre, a facility specializing in padel. Not only that, the Portuguese superstar is also rushing to complete a project called “Ciudad del Padel” (Padel City, in Portuguese) with an investment of 5 million USD.
It seems that in this new sport, Ronaldo is also determined to “win or lose” with Messi. At the end of last year, he admitted that he plays padel every day. Immediately after this statement, CR7’s fans rushed to buy a padel racket for themselves.
Messi also made padel fans happy with his statement: “Besides football, I often play basketball, tennis and padel for fun. I like padel the most.”
According to statistics, padel has now spread to about 100 countries, attracting more than 30 million players. This number is not comparable to pickleball (in the US alone there are more than 30 million players) but it also promises to explode in the future.
Pickleball is often described as the “easier” version of tennis. Padel is different.
Although the rules of padel make it seem “easier” than tennis, the presence of four walls creates interesting variables, making padel an unpredictable sport. Padel is therefore also highly regarded for its tactics.
Padel is especially developed in Latin countries, where technical and skillful qualities are valued in sports.
Comparison of padel and pickleball
1. Playground
Padel: The court is 10x20m, surrounded by glass walls or nets, allowing the ball to bounce off the walls. Padel courts are usually located outdoors or indoors, requiring larger spaces.
Pickleball: Smaller court, 6×13.4m, similar to badminton court. No walls. Easier to set up, can be played on converted tennis or badminton courts.
2. Racket and ball
Padel: A stringless racket made of carbon or composite fiber, strong and durable. The ball is similar to a tennis ball but has lower pressure and moves slower.
Pickleball: A flat, lightweight paddle made of wood or plastic. The ball is a perforated plastic ball that is lighter, slower-flying, and easier to control.
3. How to play
Padel: The ball can bounce off the wall after being hit, adding a tactical element. Often played in pairs, higher speed, requiring coordination and flexible movement.
Pickleball: No rebounding wall, gameplay focuses on quick reflexes and technique. Can be played single or double, suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
4. Popularity
Padel: Popular in Europe (especially Spain), Latin America and the Middle East. Loved by those who enjoy high intensity and tactical elements.
Pickleball: Widely popular in the US, Australia and Canada, with a very fast growth rate. Suitable for the elderly or beginners due to its simplicity.
5. Social
Padel: A team sport, creating good opportunities for bonding and communication. Often loved by stars and businessmen.
Pickleball: Simpler, easy to organize in parks or small fields, should become a community sport.
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