Scotland's greatest goal - class of 2025 delivered disgusting excess but Scott McTominay wins

But the morning after the night before everyone wanted to have a say. What is Scotland’s greatest goal? Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Denmark had produced not one, not two, but three new additions for consideration. Scotland sealed their place at the World Cup with a trio of worldies - we enjoyed yours too, Lawrence - and everyone's been left feeling like they've over-indulged at Christmas. Just one more look at that Kenny McLean 50-yarder? Oh, go on then.

It’s disgusting excess. There’s too much choice. But let not this sudden windfall of special goals tempt us to think any less of Scott McTominay’s overhead opener. Has there ever been a better Scotland goal? I don’t think so.

This one had everything. Okay, Kieran Tierney’s deliciously planted left-foot curler was the one that, if not completely decisive, felt like it had finally shaken off the Danes. It was a magnificent strike but, dare I say it, there might be several similar goals scored this weekend when domestic football – anyone ready for that yet? No didn’t think so – returns. Of course, none will have the significance or spark the same wild scenes.

McLean’s goal was far more out of the ordinary. You tend to remember where you were when someone thumps the ball in from the halfway line. I have been to many hundreds of matches but can only remember one witnessing one such strike prior to this week: Bobby Mann for Forfar Athletic against, I think, Albion Rovers circa late 1990s. But that wasn’t a crunch World Cup qualifying tie.

So yes, McLean’s perfectly measured lob from halfway deserves to be in the equation and is probably Scotland’s furthest-out goal, which feels momentous. There have been other overheadish strikes in big Scotland matches – Mo Johnston v Cyprus in 1989 – but not executed with the same panache or athleticism.

McTominay v Gemmill

Not Scotland obviously, but Wayne Rooney scored a similarly wondrous goal for Manchester United in a derby against Manchester City but caught the ball with his shin, taking some of its aesthetic appeal away. McTominay’s strike could not have been hit more cleanly. The toes of his right foot were fully extended as if performing en pointe in ballet, although what move in ballet involves flipping oneself up in the air to connect with a moving object? And then, in addition to this fusion of flexibility and finesse, succeeding in propelling this spherical object into a net that’s being guarded by someone proven to be the best in his own country for stopping just such items flying past him.

There’s technique and there’s technique. McTominay’s filmstar good looks elevated the whole thing further. Many were wondering whether the goal had supplanted Archie Gemmill’s solo run v the Netherlands in 1978 as Scotland’s greatest of all-time. God love Archie, whose goal might have served as an aphrodisiac in Trainspotting, but he’s no oil painting. The beauty was in the poise and skill.

The handsome McTominay, on the other hand, leaped higher than his cheekbones and then went off looking for his mum. A million hearts fluttered. It’s the most visually appealing celebration since Kenny Dalglish’s stunner v Spain in 1984. Coincidentally given McTominay’s determination to spot his mother in the crowd, Dalglish’s beaming smile, he recently revealed, was particularly dazzling because he’d also clocked his dad sitting in the main stand.

Along with this Dalglish goal, a personal favourite was the same player’s solo effort against Belgium in a European Championship qualifier in 1982, when he turns one player, goes past another before curling into the top corner. There’s also James McFadden v France and two v Switzerland from Ally McCoist and Charlie Nicholas. But the one I’ll take to the grave? McTominay v Denmark. Don’t @ me.