Scott McTominay makes history as Scotland star joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic with award win
The Scotland talisman has made history by winning another Serie A gong.
Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay has made history by becoming the first Scot to be crowned Serie A’s footballer of the year award following his outstanding debut season at Napoli.
Joining the Italian giants two summers ago from Manchester United for around £32million, the 28-year-old developed into one of Napoli’s key men and played a pivotal role in helping them claim the Scudetto title last season, including a memorable strike in the 2-0 win over Cagliari on the final day that secured their status as champions.
Joining the club alongside international teammate Billy Gilmour in September 2024, the Scotland talisman became the darling of the Napoli support last term, breaking Denis Law’s 63-year record for the most goals scored by a Scotsman in a single Serie A season when he bagged 12 league goals to fire Antonio Conte’s side to the title.
His sensational season in Naples saw him win several awards, with McTominay named as the Serie A’s most valuable player, while he also became the first Scottish player in 38 years to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or award, finishing in 18th place. Already a hero for Scotland, his breathtaking overhead kick goal that opened the scoring in the memorable 4-2 over Denmark last month helped Steve Clarke’s side secure qualification for next summer’s World Cup, ending their 28-year exile from the tournament.
On course for another title, McTominay has continued to shine at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this term, scoring five times, with Napoli currently level on points with league leaders AC Milan at the top of the table, and has now made history by becoming the first Scottish player in history to be crowned Serie A player of the year.
Named the winner of the award at last night’s Gran Gala del Calcio ceremony in Milan, McTominay is the first Scot to be crowned as the league’s best player since its inception in 1997, and joins a list that includes iconic names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Zinedine Zidane, and Francesco Totti as the winner of the award.
“Coming to Napoli was an easy choice,” said McTominay after being named the winner of the award. “I came to the right place. It’s sensational, it’s incredible to be here and win this award. Thank you to everyone, the team, the staff, and my teammates. My bond with Napoli is special; there are so many special places here."
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