2026 IS ONLY FIGURE THAT MATTERS TO MCGINN NOW

World Cup is primary target after reaching 80-cap milestone

- BY SCOTT BURNS

JOHN MCGINN would swap all 80 of his caps to star for Scotland at a World Cup.

The 30-year-old midfielder's outing in Sunday's 2-1 qualifying win over Belarus put him just 22 caps adrift of Kenny Dalglish's all-time tally for the country.

Captain Andy Robertson could well beat him to the record as the 31-year-old left-back sits on 88 caps, just three behind second-placed Jim Leighton on the list.

But while McGinn is proud of the numbers he has racked up since his international debut in 2016, the only stat that counts for him is ending Scotland's 28-year wait to play at a World Cup and being on the plane to North America next summer.

He said: "I never thought I would get capped once. I pride myself on never pulling out unless I'm physically incapable of playing.

"I'll keep climbing that ladder but, most importantly, getting the caps at a World Cup would be a dream come true.

"Hopefully I'll get 100. It's one that I'll not reflect on until campaigns are finished and my career is finished but it is a bit mad.

"When you're in the thick of it, you don't think of it as much.