McGinn Scores as Scotland Beat North Macedonia 2-1

John McGinn scored as Scotland beat North Macedonia 2-1 in a Nations League match, and the goal drew him level with Hughie Gallacher on Scotland's all-time list of goalscorers.

The Nations League is a competition in which national teams play each other in groups, with results counting towards promotion and relegation between divisions. For Scotland, it was a win that kept their campaign moving.

McGinn now has 24 goals for his country. BBC Sport reports that he is six short of the record, which Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law share with 30 goals each. Dalglish and Law are the men's record scorers for Scotland, so McGinn is now close enough to see it.

The match was also a milestone for his career in the dark blue. It was his 94th appearance for Scotland. Andy Robertson, the left-back, made his 102nd appearance in the same game, which moved him level with Dalglish as the most-capped man in Scotland's history. A cap is the term for each time a player is picked for his country.

McGinn's scoring has not always come easily. He did not score for Scotland at any point in 2025, the first calendar year since 2020 without a goal from him. Ninety-four appearances is a long run, and a goal in a competitive match is the kind of thing that changes the feel of a season.

Scotland are coached by Sebastien Pocognoli, who is the men's national team head coach. Pocognoli has a squad built around experienced players such as McGinn and Robertson, and this result gave him a win to build on.

For Scotland fans, the next question is simple. Six more goals would match the record, and McGinn is one of the few players in the squad with a real chance to get there. Whether he does will depend on the games ahead, and on whether the goals keep coming.