Scott McTominay Opens Up About Heart Procedure Before World Cup
Scott McTominay has revealed that just two days prior to Scotland's World Cup victory over Haiti in June, he underwent a procedure to fix an irregular heartbeat.
The Napoli midfielder had an ablation—a minimally invasive technique to address heart rhythm issues—performed in Manchester. Despite the setback, he was cleared to play and contributed to Scotland’s 1-0 win in Massachusetts.
"I had to undergo a shock to my heart," McTominay explained, reflecting on the experience. The former Manchester United star played a full 90 minutes in subsequent games against Morocco and Brazil, despite the recent health scare.
"It’s tough when you’ve trained so hard and then suddenly face something like this. You find yourself questioning, 'Why is this happening to me?' But that’s just part of football—sometimes you have to deal with unexpected challenges.
Sitting in a hospital bed two days before the first World Cup match isn’t exactly ideal," he admitted, but he feels fortunate to be back in action.
McTominay expressed gratitude to his club and medical team for their support during his recovery. After missing the initial four Nations League matches, he has made his return to the squad, ready to take on North Macedonia this Friday.
"I’m feeling much better now," he said. "It was necessary to address the issue. These moments can catch you off guard in your career. To those watching, it may seem alarming, but the procedure went smoothly, and I’m just happy to be back playing.
Football is my life, and proving myself again means everything to me. I want to reach new heights."
Looking ahead, McTominay emphasized the importance of resilience. "It’s about coming back stronger every time. No matter how well you perform, it’s always about pushing yourself for the next game and maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout your career."
