Liverpool’s rising talent Rio Ngumoha recently opened up about his biggest footballing inspiration — and why that legend stands above the rest.
Rio Ngumoha continued to impress in Liverpool’s pre-season fixtures, delivering a standout performance against Athletic Club at Anfield.
The 16-year-old winger scored once and assisted another in the 4-1 win, earning a well-deserved standing ovation from the home crowd as he left the pitch.
That wasn’t his only contribution this summer — he also found the net against Yokohama F. Marinos and provided an assist versus AC Milan, underlining his exciting potential heading into the new season.
When asked about the player who inspires him the most, Ngumoha said:
“Lionel Messi is my inspiration, he is the GOAT. He thinks quicker than the rest while no one can get the ball off him.” (via The Touchline)
🗣️ Rio Ngumoha: "Lionel Messi is my inspiration, he is the GOAT. He thinks quicker than the rest while no one can get the ball off him." pic.twitter.com/bdJTrgvYBQ
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 5, 2025
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Lionel Messi influence felt in Liverpool’s next generation
Rio Ngumoha’s admiration for Lionel Messi is not unique in the Liverpool camp.
This summer, the Reds brought in Florian Wirtz — a £116 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen — who also grew up idolizing the Argentine legend.
In a past interview, Wirtz revealed that his first football jersey had Messi’s name on the back, and he credits Messi’s game intelligence as a major influence on his playing style.
What’s striking is that Liverpool now have two of Europe’s most promising talents — both shaped by the same footballing icon.
Ngumoha and Wirtz may be at different stages of their careers, but both are technically gifted, intelligent players who can unlock defences in an instant.
While Wirtz has already made his mark on the biggest stages, Ngumoha is just beginning his journey — but the club’s faith in both speaks volumes.
At 16, Rio represents the next wave of talent Liverpool are nurturing, with Wirtz showing how far that belief can go when matched with ability and mindset.
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