NXGN takes a look at a winding road that brought Gauld from Dundee to Portugal to Canada, with plenty of difficulties in between.
Vancouver is a long way from Scotland, and an even longer way from Barcelona. In many ways, Canada seems a world away from those two locales, and that's before you get into any talk of footballing history.
But it's in the Pacific Northwest you can find the player once dubbed 'the Scottish Messi', Ryan Gauld, tearing up MLS defenses. He's been there for nearly two years now, showing some of the attributes that, in his youth, saw him compared to arguably the sport's greatest ever player.
Those comparisons came when he was a teenager, when the weight of the world was tossed onto his shoulders by a country dying out for a star. They dubbed him the next Messi, but few thought he could ever live up to that label, because who could? He'd at least be the next Kenny Dalglish, though, right? Maybe the next Denis Law?
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In the end, Gauld hasn't become the hero Scotland has cried out for, at least not yet. After experiencing setback after setback throughout Europe, he's seemingly found a home far from home, a place where he can express himself without that pressure surrounding him.
GettyThe start of it all
Gauld's professional career began at Dundee United, where he joined the youth system at the age of nine, but his real breakthrough came seven years later when he rapidly shot to superstardom.
Gauld () made his Scottish Premier League debut in May 2012, coming on at just 17 years old to replace Johnny Russell; a player that he would, coincidentally, meet again in MLS. He made his first start one year later, scoring his first goal that same day against St Johnstone to help the Tangerines to a 1-1 draw.
By the end of 2013, the world was starting to take notice. Reports frequently linked Gauld with the Premier League, with then-Manchester United manager David Moyes personally scouting the youngster, according to reports. Everton, Liverpool, Roma, Real Madrid were also all linked with the young attacking midfielder.
Gauld quickly became Scottish football's darling, as his presence at Tannadice actually overshadowed a player that would eventally reach the very top of world football: Andrew Robertson. But, during their time at Dundee United, it was Gauld, not Robertson, that was tipped to be the player winning major trophies someday.
AdvertisementGettyWhy 'the Scottish Messi'?
During his rise, Gauld was quickly compared to Messi, with scouts pointing to his ability to glide while in possession. His diminutive size didn't hurt either as, even now at 27, Gauld stands at just 5'6 (168cm).
From an early age, Gauld showed all the makings of a true No.10. In many ways, he wasn't the type of player cut out for the physical, in-your-face style Scottish football. Gauld was more modern, more creative.
In his final season at Dundee United, he scored eight goals in 38 appearances in all competitions before making a big move to Sporting CP in Portugal, a country that would seemingly provide a style of play more compatible with Gauld's game.
It also offered him a chance to escape the hype that was building in home country, where the 'Scottish Messi' moniker was beginning to take on a life of its own.
"I’ve managed to escape from the ‘Mini Messi’ tag – and I’m quite glad of it," he told the after moving to Portugal. "It was a little bit strange and it came about just because I’m small and left-footed. That’s the comparison and again it was made only after about four or five games for United.”
Getty ImagesGauld's big move
Gauld's move to Sporting saw him sign a six-year contract in Lisbon that included a €60 million buyout clause, with the club's history of developing youngsters the main reason as to why he chose Portugal over other options.
"Sporting have got a good track record with really good, young players – Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani all came from here – so I knew they must have the coaches to develop world-class players," Gauld told .
Nani, as it turns out, was a huge influence on Gauld, as the two overlapped at the club while the ex-Manchester United man was on loan during the 2014-15 season.
"Nani's been brilliant with me," Gauld said. "After training, he's making sure everything's good and even in training he's making sure I'm fully concentrated."
However, life in Portugal ultimately wouldn't be as smooth as Gauld would have hoped.
AFP PHOTO/ PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (Photo credit should read PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images)Struggles with Sporting
Gauld initially joined Sporting B, despite being named to the club's 25-man squad for the Champions League shortly after arriving. He made his debut for the B-team in August 2014, replacing current Fulham star Joao Palhinha in a loss to Farense.
He debuted for the first team that December in a Taca da Liga game and was named Man of the Match in a 1-0 win against Boavista in the same competition. By the end of his first season, Gauld would score two goals in five appearances for Sporting's senior team, but those would be the only appearances he'd ever make for the club.
Over the next several years, Gauld would undertake a series of loans across Portugal and, ultimately, back to Scotland, spending time with Vitoria de Setubal, Aves, Farense and Hibernian. In total, he made just 52 appearances across those four loan spells. His time with Hibernian, notably, was cut short due to a hamstring injury, limiting him to just six games back in his homeland.
In July 2019, Sporting decided to cut ties, with Gauld leaving to join Farense in Portugal's second tier.