Who is Ryan Gauld? The 'Scottish Messi' outperforming the real one in MLS

Stuart Telford

• 10 Oct 2023 14:03 BST
• 4 min read

Lionel Messi may hit the ground running since signing for Inter Miami, but MLS has another star doing just as well, if not better, in Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld.

Gauld has long since been nicknamed the 'Scottish Messi', with his low centre of gravity, cultured left foot, speed of dribbling and vision making the comparisons inevitable if not forgivable.

A Dundee United academy graduate, Gauld was picked up by Sporting CP as an 18-year-old in 2014 but spent much of the next five seasons fluctuating between their reserve side and loan spells with Vitoria de Setubal, Aves, Farense and back to Scotland with Hibs.

READ: Dybala, Deulofeu and the 'new Messi's' who failed

Farense made a permanent move for the attacking midfielder in 2019 and it was there that he started to blossom, top-scoring with nine goals and three assists as they won promotion to the top flight a year later.

He managed nine and seven in each column despite Farense's subsequent relegation the following season, and the Whitecaps made him theirs in two summers ago. He has since won back-to-back Canadian championships, with calls for international recognition growing ever louder online.

What position does Gauld play in?

Gauld is primarily an attacking midfielder, a modern day No.10 who prefers playing through the middle, although he has been found playing throughout the final third in his playing career to date.

READ: Lionel Messi at Inter Miami: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2023

How good is Gauld?

Gauld is certainly the kind of player Scotland aren't famous for producing, his diminutive stature often holding up his progress in his homeland, but he more than makes up for that with his technique and reading of the game.

In his last 15 games for the Whitecaps, Gauld has scored 11 goals and laid on nine more. Messi - whom he has so often been compared to - has 11 and five of each in his last 13 for Inter. In short, Gauld has only needed two more games to assist four more times than the Argentine great.

What clubs are interested in Gauld?

Manchester United were linked with Gauld when he first left Scotland for Sporting, and Celtic were credited with an interest in bringing him home when he moved to Canada instead, but now the interest in Gauld seems centred around his international allegiance. Perennially overlooked for Scotland, he could soon qualify for Canada through residency.

When does Gauld's contract expire?

Gauld's current contract runs until 31 December 2024, although player and MLS club are both keen to extend that.

How old is Gauld?

Born on 16 December 1995, Gauld is 27 at the time of writing.

What is Gauld's Instagram?

Gauld's Instagram can be found under the handle @ryangauld. He has 11.8k followers as of October 2023.