‘Another level’ – Lionel Messi MLS stint now helping Premier League clubs, claims ex-Aston Villa star
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Liam Ridgewell has hailed the impact of Lionel Messi since his arrival in the MLS.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner joined Inter Miami last summer before winning the Supporters’ Shield in his first full season.
Ridgewell, meanwhile, is currently assistant manager at Portland Timbers under Phil Neville.
Although he has yet to come up against Messi in the MLS, the former Aston Villa and Birmingham defender has noticed his impact on the league.
Appearing on talkSPORT, the 40-year-old was asked what difference Messi has made across the Atlantic.
Ridgewell explained: “I think David Beckham brought it to a level, you know, when he went there and obviously getting LA Galaxy.
“Messi has now brought it to a whole other level because of, I think probably because where he was playing and the height he was still playing at, and the deal that they did with Apple to be able to take over the TV and all the rights, he’s sort of taken it to another level.
“And also his play, he’s still scoring the goals and still scoring the free-kicks.
“Listen, if he came over and did nothing and just went through the motions every single week, probably people would talk about him, just not as much, but he’s still going strong.
“And do you know what, he’s developing his other players as well. Just seen one go to Brighton. You know, so that is the nourishment of him coming to the MLS.”
Brighton have agreed to sign Messi’s Inter Miami team-mate Diego Gomez, with the 21-year-old set to join the Seagulls in January.
Meanwhile, Messi has scored 21 goals and provided 12 assists in just 25 MLS appearances.
He is yet to face the Timbers, though, who finished ninth in the Western Conference this year under Neville.
Ridgewell returned to the club as an assistant manager at the start of 2023.
The former England under-21 international previously spent five years in Portland as a player.
During that time, he made 115 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals from defence, and won the MLS Cup.
After returning to England for spells with Hull and Southend, Ridgewell retired in 2020 aged 35.
He will be hoping to finally come up against Messi in league action when the new season gets underway.
The 2025 campaign is set to begin in late February, with the season expanding to 30 teams after the addition of San Diego FC.
