Scott McTominay's overhead kick will live forever—not just in memory, but on the Bank of Scotland's new £20 note. The Napoli midfielder's strike helped Scotland beat Denmark in November and secure a place in the World Cup finals, marking the nation's first appearance at the tournament since 1998. Now 29 and settled in Serie A after his move from Manchester United, McTominay is determined to rewrite Scotland's recent story and lead his country where they've never been: the knockout stage of a World Cup.
The weight of Euro 2024 still stings. Scotland finished bottom of their group in Germany, a result that leaves McTominay unsettled. "Looking back, it doesn't sit well with me," he said, speaking with the quiet intensity of a player who demands more from himself and his team-mates. "I still have that bit between my teeth where you want to try to change it this time round and I'm sure everyone in that group has the same feeling as well." The determination is genuine—this is not about moving past disappointment, but about seizing an opportunity that only comes once in a career.
For McTominay, the World Cup represents something deeper than redemption. It was the 2010 final, watching Andrés Iniesta score Spain's winning goal, that planted the seed. That moment of pure football magic sparked a young boy's dream, one that now sits within reach. "For me, it's those moments in football that you live for as a player," he reflected. "Just scoring a goal or being part of a World Cup campaign and, if you manage to help your country get there, these memories are some of the best moments of your life and you have to cherish them. You have to remember that that young boy watching would have snapped your hand off to even have the opportunity to do this."
His move to Napoli last season has accelerated his growth as a midfielder. The Italian club won the Serie A title with McTominay as a crucial part of the midfield engine, proving he can compete at the highest club level. Yet even that achievement pales beside the World Cup dream. "The pinnacle of football is playing at a World Cup and the Champions League," he said. "That's where every young boy dreams of playing football and that's where I want to play football."
What sets McTominay apart is his refusal to get carried away by the trappings of success. Despite cult-hero status among Napoli's famously passionate fanbase, he remains grounded—he's hardly been to the centre of Naples outside of a sponsorship event, and he actively stays off social media, leaving that to teammates like Billy Gilmour. At 29, he admits to being "a bit old school," but his appreciation for Neapolitan football culture is genuine. "The fans are so passionate and they're all fanatical Napoli supporters," he said of the city. "When we go to the stadium and see the love and support of the fans, it's so ingrained in them from such a young age, I think it's amazing."
As Scotland prepares for their World Cup campaign, McTominay embodies a squad determined to approach each match with focus rather than fantasy. "It's hugely important we approach it one game at a time and not look too far ahead," he said. It's a mantra born from experience, but also from the understanding that this chance—to become the first Scotland side in a quarter-century to reach the knockout stage—is too precious to waste on anything but meticulous, relentless preparation.