You're never too old to be mesmerised by Lionel Messi. As a youngster in Inverness, Ryan Christie marvelled at the little Argentine magician’s ability. And even now at 31, from Scotland’s team hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina, he’s still in awe of what Messi is conjuring up.
The man, who must surely now be regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, lit up this World Cup in America on Tuesday night with a sensational hat-trick against Algeria. Messi, who turns 39 next week, looks as capable as he’s ever been of lifting the trophy for the second time in a row.
And for Christie and the rest of Steve Clarke’s squad, he’s an inspiration. Not just for what he does with a football, but also for Messi’s longevity at the top. As he got his tournament off to a phenomenal start against the Algerians, yet again he showed an insatiable appetite to be the best.
That has rubbed off on Christie, who wants to play at the highest level possible, for as long as he possibly can. The midfielder has just signed a new three-year contract at Premier League side Bournemouth and he has no plans of winding down. Christie is determined to play a key role in Scotland’s World Cup campaign and could start their crucial Group C clash against Morocco in Boston on Friday night.
After watching old stagers Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric strut their stuff, he revealed he and the older members of Clarke’s squad in the US still want to be playing at the NEXT World Cup in 2030. Christie said: “I hope so. I hope I’m playing at their age. You look at these guys who are still doing it on the biggest stage. Even some of the names that I’m playing against every week in the Premier League. They are pushing into their high 30s and still turning out performances. It certainly gives us a bit of hope that we can kick on and, fingers crossed, we can make another World Cup.”
“Football in general has come on in leaps and bounds on that side of things. Even though there is a younger generation constantly pushing athletic limits, we’ve got everything in place to try and prolong our careers as long as we possibly can. You see it across football now, especially on the biggest stage. Everything is in place for us to do well.”
“When I was younger, I idolised Messi growing-up. So to think you’re playing on the same stage as him now, it’s pretty cool. Especially at the age he’s at. Watching him do his thing the other night was unbelievable. Everybody has that feeling now. When you’re playing on this stage, all the eyes across the globe are watching you. So you’re just desperate to try and make a name for yourself.”
For a kid who grew up in the Highlands, it must be pretty surreal for Christie to be playing in the same tournament as icon like Messi. The last time Scotland were on this stage, in 1998, he was only three years old. His ambition was always to be a professional footballer and win things. But to star at the World Cup alongside Messi, Ronaldo, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe? Christie is humble enough to admit that was never on his radar.
He said: “It’s obviously amazing to be part of it. I’m getting to play in it and participate in it. But then you get days when you can chill out a bit. So you turn back into a spectator a little bit and you’re with the boys watching the games. Watching Messi do his thing – stuff like that was just incredible. Whether you’re playing or not, to watch that kind of stuff happen is pretty immense. It plays a massive part in why this tournament is so special.”
“Was a World Cup ever on my agenda growing up? If I’m honest, it was non existent. I don’t know if that sounds bad to say because I obviously had aspirations of playing for Scotland. It was my pinnacle. But you don’t ever think any further than that, probably because when I was growing up, I didn’t get to watch Scotland play in a major tournament. That just wasn’t really a possibility at that point. That’s probably why all those years down the line, when we had that night in Serbia (qualifying for Euro 2020), it hit home so much. It probably felt so out of reach for me and a few of the other boys.”
“I was delighted when I won my first cap, it was a dream come true. I never envisaged playing at a Euros, never mind a World Cup. It’s been an incredible journey. When you come to tournaments like this, it makes you try to soak it in and enjoy it - because it’s something I never expected to be part of. So to be doing this and to be here is incredible.”
