The night that should have been pure celebration for Scotland ended up laden with emotion for their captain. Andy Robertson, the Liverpool star and the team’s unquestioned leader, admitted after the 4–2 win over Denmark that he played with a broken heart. The victory secured Scotland’s ticket to the 2026 World Cup, but the full-back couldn’t stop his mind from drifting over and over to one name: Diogo Jota.

The Portuguese forward, his former teammate at Liverpool, died last July in a car accident at just 28 years old. A tragedy that deeply affected the dressing room and especially Robertson, who revealed that memories of Jota stayed with him from the moment he woke up until the final whistle.

“I’ve been shattered all day,” the captain confessed, visibly emotional. “I can’t get Jota out of my head. We always talked about going to a World Cup someday. He couldn’t play the last one with Portugal, and I couldn’t with Scotland. I know he’d be smiling from above today.”

A Shared Dream That Remained Unfulfilled

The win over Denmark, sealed with goals from Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland, Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean, marked Scotland’s first World Cup qualification since 1998. A historic achievement for Steve Clarke’s squad, but one deeply personal for Robertson.

The full-back recalled how the two often talked during their time at Liverpool about the possibility of appearing at a World Cup at the same time, each with his own national team. That shared dream became especially meaningful after Jota missed Qatar 2022 due to injury.

“Given my age, I knew this might be my last chance,” Robertson said. “I thought about him every minute of the day. About how much he wanted to play in a World Cup. I felt like we were playing this for him as well.”

A Qualification Defined by Unity and Emotional Release

Robertson praised his teammates and highlighted the emotional impact of the dressing room atmosphere and the manager’s pre-match speech. “It’s the best group I’ve ever been part of,” he said. “What the gaffer told us before the match was incredible. We were all on the verge of tears.”

The captain celebrated the qualification with relief, pride and one clear dedication: his friend.

“Achieving this for him, for our families and for this group… it will stay as one of the best nights of my life.”

Scotland return to the World Cup after nearly three decades. For Robertson, qualifying wasn’t just about fulfilling his own dream, but about honoring the memory of a player who left a mark both on and off the pitch.