21 September 2023 , 14:30
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Billy Sharp's bright start to life in MLS has continued as he notched a hat-trick for LA Galaxy, meaning his record since moving to the US is now rivalling Lionel Messi's.
The Sheffield United legend's arrival stateside may not have received the same level of fanfare as the Argentine icon but he has been quick to make an impression. After notching six goals in his first six games, the veteran striker is showing that he has lost none of his finishing prowess.
His hat-trick of strikes in the Galaxy's 4-3 win over Minnesota United was the latest example of his impressive start. A trio of poacher's goals, his exploits ensured the Californian outfit took all three points from a dramatic Western Conference encounter.
Incredibly, his most recent appearance means he is now averaging a goal a game stateside. Inter Miami talisman Messi has been lauded for his start to life in the US but has an average of approximately 0.9 goals-per-game so far.
The World Cup winner has scored 11 times in 12 games and so his sample size is larger but he has only managed one strike in four MLS appearances. The other ten goals he has notched in a Vice City shirt came during the team's successful Leagues Cup run.
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His overall current goals-per-game ratio would see him expected to score approximately five more times during the Herons' remaining six MLS regular season matches. Although he is currently nursing an injury after being substituted on Wednesday night against Toronto FC.
Effectively Sharp may only need to score once in the Galaxy's remaining six regular season matches to out-do Messi's projected total. That said, if there is any player on the planet who could perform outside expected averages it is the former Barcelona hero.
Billy Sharp's goalscoring average is currently higher than Messi's in MLS (AP)Sharp is fast emerging as one of the most feared marksmen in MLS, having settled into life on the West Coast where fellow Premier League stars David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Gareth Bale also excelled.
He explained: "It’s not something I thought would come around at this stage of my career. I was jumping at the chance to come here, and my family were on board as well, and they’re really enjoying it. Playing for someone else in English football was always going to be the hard part for me.
"The opportunities just were not exciting me…Then this opportunity came along, and playing abroad is something I’ve always wanted to do. I got told I was getting one more year. I wanted to go into the Premier League with everybody knowing it was my last year, and then it was up to me whether I’d retire after that."
He added: "I had my heart set on coming back to play the Premier League and committing to playing whatever minutes it would be. When that opportunity didn’t come, it was difficult to digest."