Scott McTominay is preparing to represent Scotland at their first World Cup since 1998, two years after leaving Manchester United following a 22-year association that began when he was five years old.
McTominay is a key figure for the Tartan Army as they head to the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, arriving after a transformative couple of seasons with Napoli. He is loved in southern Italy, where he lives with his partner Cam Reading, and his profile has also soared in Scotland, particularly after his overhead kick against Denmark last November helped secure the country's place at the tournament. Alongside John McGinn, Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, he is part of a Scotland side hoping to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time in the country's history.
When McTominay decided to leave United in the summer of 2024, having spent his entire career at the club, he admitted it was a difficult decision but one he had to make to look out for number one.
Serie A title and MVP award
The gamble has paid off. McTominay starred as Napoli won the Serie A title in 2024-25, only the fourth time the club has won it. Under manager Antonio Conte, he developed from a dependable squad player at Old Trafford into one of Europe's most effective box-crashing midfielders, scoring 12 Serie A goals and winning the division's MVP award.
He also finished 18th in the Ballon d'Or rankings, ahead of Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Michael Olise. McTominay delivered repeatedly in big moments, none bigger than on the final day of the season, when an acrobatic strike put Napoli ahead as they clinched the title over Inter Milan. His performances prompted comparisons with Napoli icon Diego Maradona, with Maradona's son even comparing the Scot to Jesus.
Embracing Neapolitan culture
It is not only McTominay's performances on the pitch that have won over supporters. He has embraced life in Naples and immersed himself in Neapolitan culture, while also learning to speak Italian. On the day of his medical, he asked to visit the club's home, the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, to pay his respects to Maradona.
He also went viral in April 2025 after praising the quality of local tomatoes, saying he never ate them at home because they were just red water, but that in Naples they actually tasted like tomatoes and he now ate them as a snack along with all the local vegetables and fruits, describing it as incredible.
Moments like this earned McTominay the nickname McFratm, with fratm meaning my brother in local slang. His face has appeared on murals, flags and even birthday cakes, and supporters put up a shrine to him in Naples city centre after the 2025 title win.
What fans in Naples say
Local journalist Vincenzo Credendino told BBC Sport that Napoli fans could not be happier, saying McTominay was the symbol of the attitude of the current Napoli side, with his intensity and sacrifice in every game. Credendino said fans appreciated this a lot, as they had liked his kiss on the shirt in the match against Palermo in September and the fact he was learning Italian and even Neapolitan.
Supporters have also embraced McTominay's frequent praise of the city and its fans, whom he has described as the team's heartbeat and among the best he has ever played for.
A new look and Italian fashion
McTominay's development as a player has come alongside a new look, with the Napoli midfielder growing out his hair and taking an interest in Italian fashion. He told GQ this week that he loved the clothes in Italy, the way people dressed and the fabrics they used, and that he had enjoyed getting used to presenting himself well, favouring simple outfits without too many logos and working with a tailor. He said wearing the clothes made him feel good, even though he could not control what people said about his choices.
On his hair, he said he never planned to grow it to a particular length, and that while he changed his hairstyle often in Manchester, he had now found something he felt comfortable with and actually enjoyed having longer hair, calling it a lot easier.
Recognition back home
McTominay's growing popularity has been reflected in Scotland, where supporters have long valued his contribution to a side that has now qualified for three of the past four major tournaments. His overhead kick in the play-off against Denmark has been turned into a mural on the side of a building in Glasgow, and was featured on a commemorative £20 note marking Scotland's World Cup qualification. Only 100 of the notes were printed as part of a charity fundraising effort.
McTominay said moments like that belonged to everyone who follows the team, adding that seeing his goal featured on a Scottish banknote felt incredibly special. He credits much of his transformation to relaxing more as he has grown older and focusing on enjoying life with family and friends. He told GQ that coming out of your comfort zone was a scary place, but also a beautiful one, because it gives you room to grow.