The Tartan Army hero jumped to fifth in the charts after his two goals in the last international break moved him onto 20 for his country
22:30, 18 Mar 2025
John McGinn celebrates scoring for Scotland against Croatia(Image: Getty Images)
John McGinn insists he wants to become Scotland’s all-time record goalscorer. The Tartan Army hero never got to meet Denis Law who passed away in January and who currently shares top spot with Kenny Dalglish on 30 goals.
But McGinn, who has netted 20 times for his country, knows all about the iconic status of the Manchester United legend dubbed the King of the Stretford End. And he says it would be an honour to see his name up there with Scottish football royalty.
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The Aston Villa ace scored two huge goals in the last international window as Scotland beat Croatia and Poland and set-up this week’s Nations League play-off double header against Greece. Those strikes took him above Ally McCoist into fifth in the all time-scoring charts behind Law, Dalglish, Hugh Gallagher, 24, and Lawrie Reilly, 22.
And McGinn - who is also targeting reaching a World Cup before his international days end - said: “It definitely is a motivation to be amongst those names. I like to wind Ally McCoist up a wee bit about it when I see him.
“Obviously, if I had to choose the team winning over me scoring, I would. But I have it in the back of my mind, it's something that I think is achievable.
“Ten more goals to match Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law is something I never thought I would say. So, I've got it in the back of my mind. But first and foremost I want to keep the team in Division A. If I manage to nick a couple and creep up towards it, then even better.”
Scotland are in Athens for their first game since Law’s sad passing in January. And while McGinn never met the Man United idol, he knows all about the only Scot ever to win the Ballon D’or.
He said: “No, I didn't meet him. Obviously I was aware of how good he was. My dad told me, grandpa, everyone idolised him, whether it was people down south, people up here, everyone always spoke about how good a player he was and I think his record speaks for itself.
“He had 30 goals for Scotland in 55 caps, which is an extraordinary achievement.
Denis Law
“So everyone who speaks of him spoke so highly of him and I think the respect the football world showed him shows how highly he was thought of and what a player he was.”
McGinn will turn 31 in October, when Scotland’s attempt to qualify for a first World Cup since 1998 will be in full flight. And he admits this could be the last chance for the ‘old guard’ of himself, Andy Robertson, Grant Hanley and Kenny McLean to have a crack at the biggest competition in world football.
Before that he also has a Champions League quarter final to look forward to with Aston Villa. All of which means the next year could be one of the best in the former St Mirren and Hibs star’s career. He said: “It's exciting. I always love the opportunity to try and do something special.
“I watched the St Mirren fans celebrate a trophy after so long. Then the Hibs supporters, similar. What that means to people and what it means to the clubs, the cities, it can transform and re-energise a club.
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“Luckily at Aston Villa we've been climbing and we have an opportunity in a couple of cup competitions to do something special. You watched Newcastle on Sunday and you think, imagine that in Birmingham. It's a really exciting end to the season, club-wise.
“We know every single path to the World Cup is really, really difficult. For me and Robbo, it might be our last shot. Amongst others, Kenny, Granty, it might be our last shot at it.
“We're going to give it everything. And by staying in Nations League Division A it gives us the best chance to qualify for major tournaments and for the guys to qualify in the future.”