Naples, McTominay, the overhead kick becomes a painting exhibited in Scotland

An overhead kick to be framed. That of Scott McTominay in Scotland-Denmark (4-2), world cup qualifiers. The technical gesture of the Napoli midfielder has become a painting, exhibited in the Great Hall of the National Galleries Scotland. The chosen shot is that of Ross MacDonald: symmetrical, in mid-air, perfect. The body of the Napoli player appears perpendicular to the pitch, in the instant immediately following impact with the ball, the moment of maximum muscular extension, the moment that contains the hope of a goal. Scott looms large in the center of the painting, between three Danish red shirts who try to defuse him. The shot of McTominay’s stunt overflows the golden frame in almost three-dimensional form. The painting reflects the energy and continuous motion that certain futurist sculptures impart to space. Recalling, with due caution, that “Dynamism of a running horse + houses”, in which Boccioni merges the protagonist subject with the surrounding elements. Just like the sensations conveyed by Scott’s work, a painting with sculptural connotations. Author of the overhead kick and protagonist of the painting, McTominay launched a new football trend. In the age of social media, marked by highlights, presented repeatedly, fix a moment that becomes art. The painting dedicated to the Napoli midfielder is exhibited in the Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh and can be admired until January 5th. The initiative was born from an idea of ​​the Scottish Football Association following the suggestion of the many fans who through social media continued to comment on the beauty of the Scot’s overhead kick, comparing it to a work of art, worthy of being exhibited in a museum. The one in Edinburgh is the most famous portrait gallery in the world, it contains around 3 thousand. In short, Scott is in excellent company, among the images of Robert Burns and Mary Stuart, but also alongside the more modern faces of Lorraine Kelly and Billy Connolly.

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Scott McTominay is, without a doubt, a modern Scottish hero. He who in the third minute of the match against Denmark opened the door to the 2026 World Cup in style for his Scotland, after 28 years of absence. He who, with an elevation between 2.20 meters (according to Sky Sport) and 2.53 meters (according to Scottish Sun), potentially surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s record in the historic overhead kick against Juventus (2.38 metres). He who, after a career in the United shirt as a supporting player, found his place in the sun in Naples, winning the 2024/2025 Serie A MVP award in his first season in blue. Scott sealed Napoli’s Scudetto with another memorable technical gesture, the semi-overhead kick against Cagliari in the final championship match of last season. Last spring’s stunt was the prelude to a work of art destined to make history for Scotland and football. Who knows, Scott may repeat himself or surpass himself with increasingly avant-garde technical gestures, perhaps worthy of a futurist sculpture.