LAWRENCE Shankland travels to North America fresh off a 20-goal campaign and summer move to his boyhood club.
Having scored three times for his country in their two pre-tournament tune-up friendlies, the forward arrives onto the global stage in perhaps the best form of his career.
In the lead up to the start of the FIFA World Cup, we take an in-depth look at each of our representatives:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNEY
Shankland earned his first Scotland Under-21s call-up in March 2015.
His debut for the side couldn’t have been any more memorable, springing from the substitutes bench to score a late double away to Hungary.
A further three Under-21 appearances followed for the forward, grabbing an assist in a narrow European Championship qualifying defeat to France.
It took until 2019 for Shankland to earn his first senior selection, earning his first cap as a substitute against Russia in Moscow.
Three days later, a first start in Scotland colours brought a first goal as the forward got in on the act in a 6-0 rout of San Marino at Hampden.
Following a two-and-a-half-year absence from the Scotland squad, Shankland was recalled in March 2023 and appeared late during the side’s famous 2-0 victory over Spain.
He was once again involved in Steve Clarke’s squad later in the year – again as a late replacement for Che Adams – and underlined his goalscoring prowess with a late leveller away to Georgia.
By that stage the case for his involvement on the plane to Germany for the European Championships in 2024 was difficult to ignore, and he was given the nod from the off for Scotland in a friendly clash against the Netherlands in March of that year.
A prolific campaign at Hearts sealed his place in Clarke’s final squad, with Shankland appearing in all three group stage outings for Scotland on German soil.
He was involved once again for his country at a crucial juncture in November 2025, returning to the squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark.
Despite defeat in Greece, where Shankland appeared off the bench in the second period, results elsewhere set up a winner-takes-all showdown with the Dane’s at Hampden.
It was there where the forward etched his name into the history books, netting to restore his side’s lead in the second half from a corner before late goals earned Scotland’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
THE SEASON THAT WAS
The 30-year-old finished the Scottish Premiership campaign as the highest scoring Scotsman with 16 goals for Hearts.
He proved a thorn in Rangers’ side early in the campaign, striking twice for the Edinburgh club in a 2-0 win at Ibrox in September.
By the start of November, the forward already had double digit goals to his name in all competitions as Hearts enjoyed an unbeaten start to the league season.
Indeed, their first defeat arrived when Shankland was absent for a 1-0 reverse against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
He returned and was on the scoresheet against Kilmarnock at Tynecastle, before he again underlined his penchant for goals in big games by doubling Hearts’ advantage in their victory over the Gers prior to Christmas.
After Derek McInnes’ side tasted defeat to their city rivals a week later, Shankland’s leadership was instrumental in getting the side back on track with three league victories on the spin.
However, injury struck for the 30-year-old as he missed just under two months of action, including a 4-2 defeat for his side in a thrilling contest at Ibrox.
The Scotland international returned at a crucial stage in the campaign, scoring and assisting against Livingston away from home before the league split.
A fourth goal in three games against Rangers was plundered with the winner at Tynecastle last month, the first of his three post-split goals for the Edinburgh outfit.
The forward's incredible individual contribution was recognised at the conclusion of the campaign as he was nominated for both the PFA Scotland Player of the Year and Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year.
WHAT HE SAID
Speaking recently to RangersTV about his involvement at this summer’s tournament, Shankland said: “You always want to be part of your national team, especially when there's a major tournament coming.
“I picked up the injury near the end of last season, but I know I just had to get myself in a position to bounce back and I came back really well, in really good form, and, thankfully enough, I've got myself in the squad, so it's going to be a brilliant experience.
“I am really looking forward to being a part of it, and it'll be brilliant for the family as well to come and see that.
“I'm just looking forward to going to the World Cup first and foremost and then getting back here to get started.”
GROUP STAGE OUTLOOK
Shankland’s World Cup preparations began with a brace as Scotland defeated Curaçao at the national stadium.
He then struck the opener in the side’s final pre-tournament friendly against Bolivia in New Jersey before teeing up Scott McTominay with a clever flick.
The group stage campaign begins on Sunday morning for Shankland and his teammates, squaring off against Haiti in Boston, kick-off 2am UK time.
Haiti qualified for this summer’s showdown by finishing second behind Curaçao in Concacaf Group C before winning their third-round qualifying section with key victories against Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Scotland will then have six days to rest and recover before going again, this time against Morocco in their second group stage fixture.
The African outfit have certainly raised expectations following their semi-final run in Qatar four years ago, while they enter this summer’s tournament as African Cup of Nations winners.
Last on the group stage schedule for Clarke’s side is the small matter of Brazil, the most successful country in World Cup history.
Although their route to qualification was far from perfect, tasting defeat to Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia along the way, they are now managed by the seasoned Carlo Ancelotti, with the fixture set to take place in the punishing climate of Miami.
GROUP C FIXTURES
Sunday, June 14 – Haiti v Scotland – Boston, Massachusetts – Kick-off 2am (UK time)
Friday, June 19 – Scotland v Morocco – Boston, Massachusetts – Kick-off 11pm (UK time)
Wednesday, June 24 – Scotland v Brazil – Miami, Florida – Kick-off 11pm (UK time)
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