McGinn double lifts him to 24 Scotland goals, six short of record

John McGinn scored twice as Scotland beat North Macedonia 2-1 in the Nations League at Hampden Park on Friday 13 November. The Aston Villa midfielder now has 24 international goals, six short of the Scotland men's record of 30 held jointly by Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law, BBC Sport reports.

Scotland were booed off at half-time with the game goalless, and the mood at the final whistle was one of relief rather than celebration, Sky Sports reports.

Two goals, one nervous finish

McGinn put Scotland ahead early in the second half after Che Adams outmuscled his marker and sent him into the box, and he curled the finish into the net. Elmin Rastoder levelled less than three minutes later, glancing a header past Angus Gunn from a corner.

With a little over 15 minutes left, North Macedonia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski brought down Ben Gannon-Doak when the winger appeared to be running the ball out of play. After a VAR review, McGinn converted the penalty to win it.

It was a first win at Hampden for head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.

A record once seen as out of reach

Scotland have produced strikers in recent decades, but none has come close to Dalglish or Law, BBC Sport notes, which makes a midfielder's pursuit of the record all the more striking.

McGinn, who is 32 and was winning his 94th cap, also drew level with Hughie Gallacher on the all-time list. Captain Andy Robertson earned his 102nd cap on the same night, equalling Dalglish's appearance record.

"It's something that's been in the back of my head," McGinn said. "If I start climbing that table, it means we've been successful as a team."

After a barren year

McGinn did not score for Scotland in 2025, the first calendar year since 2020 in which he had failed to do so, BBC Sport reports.

"It has been a bit of a dry patch for me over the last year on the goal front," he admitted. Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin, speaking on Sportsound, said he would be surprised if McGinn did not break the record, even if it took "another year or two".

What comes next

Scotland can still finish second in Group B1 after Slovenia were held by Switzerland. They must win in St Gallen on Monday and hope North Macedonia do them a favour in their final game, Sky Sports reports.