When football fans became amateur statisticians
January 19, 2026
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January 19, 2026The sight of Scott McTominay leaping into the air, back to goal, and swinging his right foot in a bicycle-kick motion to send a stunning effort sailing into the net will live long in the memory of Scottish football supporters.
To have achieved said feat in a training exercise would have been some accomplishment, never mind a must-win fixture at Hampden Park that had World Cup qualification on the line.
McTominay has, however, transformed into a man for the big occasion and one that is suddenly capable of making the seemingly impossible look remarkably easy. In that regard, he occupies a similar talent bracket to fellow overhead kick hero, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Revelation
‘That is a goal worthy of taking a country to a World Cup’
Our Sportscene team react to THAT McTominay goal 😍#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/u28cMZMEKP
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) November 18, 2025
While on the books at Manchester United, McTominay got the chance to play alongside CR7 – helping the Red Devils to earn support in betting on football games that should have been weighted in their favour.>
That episode did not play out as planned, with English Premier League odds continuing to turn against a once dominant force that are now 6/1 just to secure a top-four finish, never mind challenge for ultimate title honours.
Ronaldo was deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford in November 2022, with McTominay heading in the same direction during the summer of 2024. One packed his bags for Saudi Arabia, the other for Italy.
Fresh starts have served both well, with the inclement rain of north-west England being swapped for sunnier climes. It’s easier to have a smile on your face when your back is being warmed.
McTominay has been nothing short of a revelation in Serie A, with the record books being rewritten across a memorable debut campaign at Napoli.
He has become the first Scottish player to be named that division’s Player of the Year, having captured a top-flight crown under the guidance of former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
Personal bests have been posted on the goal front, as double figures are reached again, while finishing 15th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or vote – a truly remarkable achievement for a man that was being written off long before a farewell was bid to Manchester.
Back in August 2022, outspoken former United captain Roy Keane stated that McTominay was “not good enough” and that he was “not up to it” when it came to recapturing former glories with the Red Devils.
He has been made to eat his words.
That night against Denmark in November 2025 proved how far McTominay has come in a short space of time. He is now a talismanic presence for his country and a man that has helped to return Scotland to the World Cup finals for the first time in almost three decades.
Immortality
This mural has appeared on a Scottish street in honour of THAT Scott McTominay overhead kick against Denmark. 🤩
The image depicting the goal that helped Scotland reach the World Cup Finals for the first time in 28 years is on Andrews Street in Paisley. 🏴 pic.twitter.com/QaZG9eKYr3
— The Scottish Sun (@ScottishSun) November 28, 2025
Immortality has been achieved, with tales of his exploits set to stand the test of time.
If anyone grows tired of merely telling those stories, they can now head to Paisley and introduce visual aids to their presentation. McTominay is the proud star of his own mural – which once again places him in Ronaldo and Lionel Messi-esque company.
Said painting will not last forever, but it does go to prove how quickly a mockery can be made of those that take to criticising any form of art – with McTominay morphing from much-malgined misfit to memory-making muse.
