Ryan Carmichael exclusive: From playing Gaelic football to sharing dressing room with Lionel Messi

Ryan Carmichael wasn’t even being serious with his prediction going into the 2024 MLS Superdraft and yet he somehow wished it into existence.

"The day before, I remember I was joking with one of my friends,” the Northern Irishman told SPORTbible in an exclusive interview.

“'I'll get in the draft; Miami will draft me and I'll be playing with Messi next year'. I was just joking around, and it actually happened.”

On 19 December 2023, after scoring an incredible 46 goals in 75 appearances in four seasons for Hofstra University, Carmichael became a first round draft pick for Inter Miami, the franchise created by David Beckham and now being spearheaded by eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.

He was “pretty confident” that an opportunity would arrive off the back of his fine form at college level but the one that did proved to be life-changing.

Selected 24th in the overall picks, he now rubs shoulders with Messi, arguably the best ever player – and his former Barcelona colleagues Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez – in training sessions under Tata Martino.

"When you hear your name called like that it's a very nice feeling,” he added.

"But you don't know where you're going until your name's called so when it is, it was a bit of a shock.”

Carmichael’s manifestation of Messi and Miami came true but his journey into his current spot began back in Armagh, Northern Ireland.

While at St Patrick’s academy high school in Dungannon, he played football and Gaelic football to a high level and would go on to make waves in the first-team at Portadown in the NIFL Premiership, playing 60 games between 2018 and 2020.

He explained: "That was my first proper team. I played some youth football, from 13 to 16 and then broke into the first team there. I was so young and I was playing with guys who were old enough to be my dad.”

In 2020, Carmichael was faced with a huge decision to make. He received an offer for a scholarship across the pond with Hofstra University, an NCAA Division I school.

He had to leave his family and life behind but this was a chance to play football at a high level whilst also experiencing a new culture and getting an education at the same time.

Naturally there were some reservations, but he ultimately decided to go for it and hasn’t looked back.

Image: Hofstra University

"I was on the fence about it because I started my last year of secondary school and was looking into it, the 23-year-old said.

"Nothing really came about and then December 2019; Hofstra came in and offered me a scholarship.

"COVID hit and I didn't even know if I was going to end up getting over there. It ended up all working out in the end.

“I came out here to keep playing and get a degree and realised I was actually pretty decent at scoring some goals!

"My second year in college I got a decent amount and I thought I could probably end up in the draft and see where it takes me.

"It was the best decision I've made to come out to college over here because it's led to everything since then. I have no regrets at all."

In terms of his studies, Carmichael started off doing maths and computer science before changing to business analytics, a subject he majored in.

At the same time he was travelling up and down the United States playing for Hofstra Pride men's soccer, where he is the team’s second all-time goalscorer.

Image: Hofstra University

He also turned out for amateur sides Georgia Revolution and Long Island Rough Riders during the summer months to keep himself ticking over. The schedule was not to be taken lightly.

“You're in training everyday and you've got a game on a Saturday and a game on a Tuesday or Wednesday,” Carmichael said, describing his experience.

“You're playing two games a week, travelling and you could be on a bus for six hours on a Friday night.

"Then you've got to get up and do homework and stuff as well. I'd say it's way more full on than professional football for about three months, you get your break and then the spring season from February till May is pretty laid-back. A few friendlies and training but it's not as intense as the autumn, fall months."

Looking back Carmichael sees the opposition he came up against as a real mixed bag – with the big schools like Virginia having the very best players and the top notch facilities.

His pathway is a rare one. It worked for Everton winger Jack Harrison, who came through the American college system before becoming the overall No.1 pick by New York City FC in the 2016 MLS Superdraft.

Carmichael, who is without family and lives with fellow teammates, would recommend that young players who have been released by academies follow his lead.

He advised: “Anybody who's 18 who doesn't know what they're doing with themselves football-wise, you've always got to have a back-up plan.

"With this you can enjoy yourself for four years, that's a fact and you're going to continue playing football at a pretty high level and at the end if you're still wanting to pursue it there's always going to be an opportunity if you're good enough.

"A lot of the guys coming out of academies in England, it should be up there on the list in what to do next."

Image: Inter Miami CF

However, quite crucially, it should be noted that not every player who embarks on the college journey will end up linking up with Messi, who completed football with his World Cup win with Argentina and is now doing side-quests with Inter Miami.

Messi is 37 now but has 22 goals and 13 assists in 23 games this season and is looking to bring a first ever MLS Cup to Miami after winning the Supporters’ Shield and claiming a 46th career trophy in dominant fashion.

As expected, Carmichael has been left in awe of Messi in training sessions.

"He's the best player I've ever seen so even just to watch him up close, it's different,” he revealed.

"He does things that nobody else does. He's just so quick with the ball and he's two or three steps ahead of everybody he plays against. You want him on your team.

“His touch is always completely perfect no matter what ball is played into him. You can play something that is bad, and he'll just pluck it out of the air and play on with it.

"The basics are so clean with him and his dribbling; he'll chop four or five people and nobody can get near him. You know what he's going to do but he still does it anyway; you can't stop it."

Carmichael hasn’t had too much conversation with Messi but doubts he would be able to understand his accent anyway.

But he does still pinch himself over the fact that he is playing with a quartet of world-beaters who won the treble with Barcelona under Luis Enrique just under a decade ago.

Carmichael reflected: "We all used to watch these boys ripping it up for Barcelona ten years ago and even two years ago if you'd have said, 'You'll be playing in the MLS with Messi', I would have laughed at you.

"It all happened so quickly from last June when he signed. There was maybe a one per cent chance but now it's happening, so you've got to just roll with it.

"I can't be too starstruck by it or it's going to affect my game. You just have to get one with it."

Image: Getty

In the second team, Inter Miami CF II, Carmichael has nine goals and seven assists in 25 MLS Next Pro appearances.

With a slight frame and lightning quick pace, the striker has drawn comparisons to Jamie Vardy – who came from the lower echelons of Non-League to win the Premier League and play for England.

Carmichael is still waiting for that MLS debut, having been on the bench on a couple of occasions. But he sees reason to believe that he can make the grade given the club’s impressive integration of young players.

Assessing his current standing, he admitted: "I'd say I'm on the fringes of breaking in hopefully. I'm hoping it will come soon but you've got to do your time and impress in the second team before they're going to give you a chance in the first team.

"I'm almost there but I'm hoping I can push on and get it soon.

“You've got these big boys but you have to fill the rest of the team up as well and there's a lot of young lads in the first team roster and it's good that they give these young boys a chance.

"There's a good youth system in place."