Alan Shearer tells Micah Richards to be quiet as Gary Lineker ‘aroused’ by Messi

The reasons behind Lionel Messi’s move to the MLS

The heroics of Lionel Messi have not been lost on the Argentinian’s super-fan Gary Lineker, but the former England striker’s relentless onslaught of superlatives was a bit much for Micah Richards. The pair indulged in a discussion about the World Cup-winning captain’s latest exploits alongside their Match of the Day colleague Alan Shearer during the latest edition of the trio’s podcast ‘The Rest is Football’.

Messi agreed to join David Beckham’s Major League Soccer club Inter Miami last month and made his first appearance for the struggling outfit on July 21. His impact since has been nothing short of phenomenal.

After scoring an injury-time free-kick winner on his debut – Miami’s first win in 11 matches – the former Barcelona great has taken his new club on a winning streak, scoring 10 goals in just eight appearances.

That run included the capture of a first-ever trophy for Beckham’s club, following a Leagues Cup Final penalty shoot-out triumph against Nashville SC, a game in which Messi opened the scoring before finding the net during the spot-kicks.

And on Wednesday evening, Miami overcame table-topping Cincinnati on penalties after a 3-3 draw, to reach the final of the US Open Cup.

The reversal of fortunes in little over a month is no accident, with Messi-mania now sweeping the United States. And Lineker, who played for Barcelona himself from 1986-1989, was only too happy to lavish the seven times Ballon d’Or winner with more praise.

Taking the lead on the podcast discussion, Lineker said: “I quite like talking about Messi and I make no secret about that. He’s given almost two decades of incredible joy, watching him play the beautiful game most beautifully of all.

“He’s gone to America and yes we know it’s a little bit like the alternative place to go for old footballers at the moment, rather than Saudi Arabia. But his performances, I know it’s against players that are not at that same level as he would have played against previously, but it’s far from a Mickey Mouse league.

“He’s already won a trophy, gone past Dani Alves as the most decorated footballer in history. Another two assists he got on Wednesday night, one a ridiculous pass in the final minute to go into extra-time. We’ve seen him bend in amazing free-kicks, scoring goals from outside the box, he really is an extraordinary footballer isn’t he?”

All-time Premier League top goalscorer Shearer agreed but was at pains to point out how reliant Miami were on their new star player.

“There’s no way Inter Miami were doing any of that without him [Messi]. He’s elevated them to a different level. Wherever they go now, the following his huge, because of Lionel Messi.”

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Lineker continued with his praise for Messi, pointing out that the reason he is the best of all time is because he does ‘four or five’ things in every football match that other players can’t do.

Sensing that former Manchester City defender Richards wanted to end the Messi love-in, Shearer interjected by saying: “Micah, at his age, just let him carry on. At his age, you’ve just got to let him get his kick and his pleasure from somewhere. It doesn’t happen very often so let’s keep on listening to Gary!”

“Not much else arouses me these days Alan,” responded Lineker. “Do you not get pleasure out of watching the little man play Micah?”

Richards said: “He’s an extraordinary talent. I’ve always said he was the best but when he won the World Cup it cemented it.”

Richards wasn’t prepared to give Messi a complete free pass however and added: “The only thing in his game that he maybe could improve was his heading, but he doesn’t need to.”

An amused Lineker replied by saying: “I think that’s brilliant, that thing about his heading. There’s not another country in the world that would say that other than Britain!”

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