“I was told I wasn’t good enough to play non league, now I’m teammates with Lionel Messi”

“I was told I wasn’t good enough to play non league, now I’m teammates with Lionel Messi” – That’s the words of Inter Miami’s Robert Taylor.

The Finnish footballer plays as a midfielder and wing-back in the (MLS) Major League Soccer club and the Finland national team.

But not so long ago, he was struggling in England’s non league, and it got so bad that he looked at quitting football altogether.

As a kid, he – now 28 – he turned out for the likes of Nottingham Forest, Barnet and Lincoln, but struggled to made an impact. He was also had been set to sign professionally for Barnet, but they suffered relegation, meaning the deal fell through.

He was sent further down the divisions, having loan spells at Boston Town and Lincoln Moorlands Railway.

But even down in the depths of the 11th tier, he felt let down after being told he wasn’t good enough.

ROBERT. TAYLOR.

A brilliant solo effort to put @InterMiamiCF on top!

(And Messi loves it) #LeaguesCup2023 pic.twitter.com/QefDY0yOBp

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 22, 2023

ROBERT TAYLOR BANGER 🚨

Cremaschi with the flick on to Taylor to give us a three goal lead in the 44th minute🤯#MIAvATL | 3-0 pic.twitter.com/8T4ttw5vaY

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023

Last Sunday night, he played a vital part in one of US soccer’s most momentous nights, scoring opening goal in Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup clash with Cruz Azul, before watching Lionel Messi got a late winner on his debut.

‘If anyone had told me a few years ago that, sitting on the bench for Lincoln Moorlands, that I’m going to play with (Sergio) Busquets and Messi I would have laughed in their face,’ Taylor said after the game.

‘I was sitting on the bench, I wasn’t able to get any minutes, the coach told me I’m not strong enough, basically not good enough.

‘It tested me when I was younger. I was calling my parents back home in Finland and telling them that I wanted to look for something else, other options.’

‘It’s amazing,’ Taylor said on Busquets and Messi’s arrival. ‘(Messi) has just come in and brought a lot of energy to the team. His play means he makes the right decisions all of the time in training and in the games which is why it’s so good.

‘It was a great feeling to hear the fans. Busquets brings a lot of confidence. You feel when he gives you the ball, it gives you time because he knows when to pass the ball, when to keep the ball and it makes life easier for everyone around him.’

He added: ‘You could see the quality when they both came into the team, so I think it’s a really important time for us.’

‘To witness that [Messi] free kick and the quality he brings to the team, it’s unbelievable,’ Taylor added.

‘Sold-out stadium, Messi and Busquets debut, coming on, so of course it’s a special occasion… it’s an unbelievable feeling for everyone in the team (to play with Messi). ‘But eventually we’ll have to get used to it and not get too emotional around it.’

He added: ‘My family is in Finland, it’s the middle of the night but my Dad watches the game and he’s very happy.’

TAYLOR’S CAREER:

Youth career
2004–2008 – JJK
2008–2009 – Nottingham Forest
2009–2011 – JJK
2011–2013 – Lincoln City
2013 – Barnet

Senior career
2011 – Huima – 1 game (0 goals)
2011–2013 – Lincoln City – 0 games (0 goals)
2013 → Boston Town (loan) – 1 game (0 goals)
2013–2015 – JJK – 53 games (11 goals)
2013 → Villiketut (reserves) – 6 games (3 goals)
2016–2017 – RoPS – 55 games (17 goals)
2017–2018 – AIK – 6 games (0 goals)
2018 → Tromsø (loan) – 30 games (4 goals)
2018–2019 – Tromsø – 31 games (4 goals)
2020–2021 – Brann – 60 games (12 goals)
2022– Inter Miami – 62 games (8 goals)

International
2011 – Finland U17 – 2 games (0 goals)
2013 – Finland U19 – 2 games (0 goals)
2011 – Finland U20 – 2 games (0 goals)
2015–2016 – Finland U21 – 10 games (0 goals)
2017– Finland – 29 games (1 goal)

On the international stage, he has featured consistently for the Finnish national team, representing his country at the U-17, U-19, U-20 and U-21 categories before making his debut for the senior team in Jan. 2017. He has played more than 20 times for his country to date, netting once and registering two assists, including competing in UEFA World Cup qualifying, UEFA European Championship qualifying, and UEFA Nations League matches, scoring one goal and tallying two assists. Taylor was also a member of Finland’s historic UEFA European Championship 2020 squad in 2021, as the team qualified for the continental competition for the first time.