'Scottish Messi' misses out on Euro 2024 squad despite admitting 'dream' is to play for Scotland
dailyrecord.co.ukA player once dubbed the ‘Scottish Messi’ has been overlooked for Euro 2024.Aberdeen-born Ryan Gauld burst onto the scene with some dazzling displays for Dundee United, where he made his senior debut aged just 17.
By 2013, he was even being linked with Manchester United during fellow Scot David Moyes’ brief reign in charge.Liverpool, Everton, Real Madrid and Roma were also said to be interested, with pundits and fans even comparing his style of play and size – just 5ft6 – to that of a young Lionel Messi.
Now 28, Gauld’s career has fallen short of those unfairly lofty standards and he now finds himself playing in Canada. But he won't be starring in Germany this summer after being omitted from Steve Clarke's squad.Gauld left Dundee United in 2014 for Sporting Lisbon, where, to his relief, he shed the ‘Scottish Messi’ and ‘Mini Messi’ tags.
He said at the time: "I’ve managed to escape from the ‘Mini Messi’ tag – and I’m quite glad of it."It was a little bit strange and it came about just because I’m small and left-footed.
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