Scott McTominay had heart treatment before World Cup

Scott McTominay has revealed that he needed treatment to correct an irregular heartbeat just two days before Scotland's opening World Cup match against Haiti in June. The Napoli midfielder told BBC Sport he was put to sleep for the procedure, then cleared to play in the 1-0 win in Massachusetts.

The 29-year-old later had an ablation, a minimally invasive operation used to correct irregular heart rhythms, in Manchester during the autumn. He says he now feels much better and is back in the Scotland squad.

The former Manchester United player went on to play the full 90 minutes in Scotland's World Cup defeats by Morocco and Brazil.

What Scott McTominay said about the treatment

McTominay described the shock of having to go to hospital so close to the biggest game of his international career. He said he had to "go and get the shock on my heart" two days before the Haiti match, after preparing well and feeling in top condition.

"You're thinking, 'how is this happening to me?'" he said, adding that players have to get on with the cards they are dealt. He admitted that lying in a hospital bed before a World Cup opener, about to be put to sleep, was "not ideal".

He also played down the seriousness of the later procedure. He said news of a heart issue looks much worse to the media, family and friends than it really is, and called the ablation a relatively straightforward operation that went very well.

Timeline of his heart problem

• June: treatment for an irregular heartbeat two days before the Haiti game
• World Cup: plays in the 1-0 win over Haiti, then plays 90 minutes against Morocco and Brazil
• Autumn: ablation procedure in Manchester
• Nations League: misses Scotland's first four fixtures
• November: recalled after returning to action with Napoli

McTominay praised Napoli and the medical staff who treated him. While he was out, Scotland collected a win, a draw and two defeats in their first four Nations League matches.

Back for North Macedonia and Switzerland

He has been recalled after returning to domestic and Champions League football with the Italian club. Sebastien Pocognoli's Scotland host North Macedonia on Friday and then travel to face Switzerland on Monday.

"I'm feeling much, much better than what I was," McTominay said, describing the procedure as something that needed to be done. He said moments like this can take a player by surprise during a career.

The midfielder said his main aim now is to come back stronger and prove himself again. He spoke about focusing on the next game, recovering well, eating the right food and sleeping properly, and said playing football remains the most important thing in his life.

McTominay has become one of Scotland's most important players, and his return gives Pocognoli a major boost for the final Nations League games. He has been a key figure for both club and country since his move from Old Trafford to Naples.

Fans of his former club have their own drama to follow. Our report on the pressure on Michael Carrick at Manchester United looks at the questions over the manager's future. For a wider view of football politics, see our story on Arsene Wenger weighing a run for Fifa president.

News of a heart problem in elite sport always draws wide attention, and his openness should reassure Scotland fans before a busy run of fixtures. His message to supporters was simple: he is fit, happy and eager to play again.

The original report was published by BBC Sport.

Image: Scott McTominay before Scotland's match against Bolivia on June 6, 2026, days before the World Cup. Photo by Bryan Berlin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.