Christie Draws on Messi Magic Before Morocco Test
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- Ryan Christie watched Messi's hat-trick against Algeria from his team hotel in Charlotte, calling the experience "unbelievable" and admitting playing on the same stage as his childhood idol feels "pretty cool"
- Christie broke down in tears after Scotland's Serbia playoff win under Steve Clarke, saying "it felt so out of reach for me and a few of the other boys" — he had never envisioned a World Cup
- Morocco await in Boston on Friday (2300 BST), with Christie in contention to start after a cameo off the bench against Haiti and one point almost certainly enough to seal a historic knockout place
- Christie has signed a new Bournemouth contract keeping him at the club until 2029, and at 31 takes encouragement from Messi still producing at 38 that he has years left at the top
- Steve Clarke has stressed the importance of starters and finishers throughout the squad, with Christie saying every player "is going to be needed at some point"
- Scotland are considerable underdogs but Christie insists "absolutely" they can win, pointing to recent results against top opposition as proof they can be "sticky" opponents
Why it matters: Scotland's first men's World Cup since 1998 hinges on Friday's result in Boston — a draw against Morocco would all but seal a historic knockout-stage spot, while Christie embodies the squad's emotional core, having cried at the moment qualification became real in Belgrade. His new 2029 Bournemouth deal signals club-side stability heading into the tournament's defining test.
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