Skip to content Six goals now stand between John McGinn and the Scotland scoring record after his Hampden double pushed him into legendary company. He pulled level with Hughie Gallacher on 24 international goals during a tense 2-1 Nations League win over North Macedonia. That leaves only Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law ahead of him.
The result gave Sebastien Pocognoli his first home victory as Scotland head coach. It also revived McGinn’s own scoring touch after a difficult spell in front of goal for his country. More importantly, it showed that Scotland can still rely on their midfield talisman when games turn messy.
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For supporters, watching an active midfielder close in on a mark set by two icons of the 1960s and 1970s feels surreal. Law and Dalglish share the summit with 30 goals each. McGinn needs just seven more strikes to hold the record outright.
Chasing Denis Law and the Scotland scoring record
McGinn has never hidden his passion for the national team, but he admitted he now keeps an eye on the numbers. He spent his early career with St Mirren and Hibernian before moving to Aston Villa. Reaching third place on the country’s scoring charts seemed unthinkable back then.
“It’s been something that’s been in the back of my head, but obviously the results haven’t been the way we’ve wanted.”
The midfielder stressed that team success must always come before personal milestones. He noted that goals from Che Adams or Scott McTominay matter just as much as his own. Yet climbing toward the Scotland scoring record remains a clear sign of progress for both player and country.
He conceded that the past two years brought a personal goal drought on the international stage. Breaking that dry run against North Macedonia brought obvious relief. Now he wants to keep that momentum going straight into the next fixture.
How McGinn broke down North Macedonia at Hampden
North Macedonia arrived at Hampden Park with a defensive plan that frustrated the home crowd for almost an hour. Pocognoli needed someone to take charge, and McGinn stepped forward in the 54th minute with a breakthrough finish. The lead did not last long.
Three minutes later, visiting striker Elmin Rastoder slipped through to beat the Scottish defence and level the match. Hampden fell quiet, and Scotland risked dropping cheap points on home soil. But the hosts kept pushing forward in search of a winner.
Their reward came in the 73rd minute when the referee pointed to the penalty spot. McGinn took responsibility himself, struck his penalty cleanly, and restored Scotland’s lead. His composure under pressure sealed all three points and brought him within six goals of the historic mark.
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At 32, some players begin to manage their workloads or think about stepping back from international duties. McGinn sees things quite differently. He feels physically strong and believes his peak years are far from over.
He credits Aston Villa for giving him top-tier medical care, nutrition, and daily recovery routines. Those resources allow modern professionals to extend their careers without losing their sharpness. Because he has avoided major injuries, he feels ready to chase the Scotland scoring record for several more campaigns.
His main target is guiding Scotland into another major tournament rather than padding his personal stats. Still, he joked that a few more penalties would certainly help his cause. His appetite for international football matches the enthusiasm he showed when he broke into the squad at 22.
Robertson matches Dalglish before Switzerland test
McGinn was not the only player celebrating a historic milestone on the night. Scotland captain Andy Robertson earned another cap, moving level with Kenny Dalglish as the joint most-capped men’s player in Scottish history. The Liverpool defender shared the Hampden spotlight with his long-time teammate.
Robertson could claim the appearance record outright in Scotland’s final Group B1 match against Switzerland on Monday night. That clash gives Pocognoli another chance to build rhythm after taking his first home win as boss. It also gives McGinn another opportunity to inch closer to the Scotland scoring record.
Can Scotland carry this attacking spark away from home against elite European opposition? The answer comes on Monday night in Switzerland, where Robertson looks set to take the cap record and McGinn aims for goal number 25.
Source: Independent Sport
