2026 World Cup: Andy Robertson, captain of Scotland, the extraordinary journey of a legend in the making

At the Scottish training camp in Turkey, preparing for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark, Andy Robertson managed to combine seriousness and lightness. Like Claudia Winkleman, he organized a game called “The Traitors”, with blackboards and miniature shields, inviting the team to elect each evening who would be “eliminated”. This week of challenges, mixing competition and complicity, was the captain's way of unifying his group and instilling joy in the midst of pressure.

This initiative reflects the deep mark left by the 32-year-old left-back within the Scottish group, both as a player, teammate and leader. From humble beginnings at the ticket office at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow, to captaining his country to its first men's World Cup in 28 years, Robertson has become a national icon.

His value to Liverpool, the fruit of nine years with the Reds, has been widely praised in recent weeks as he prepares to leave Anfield. Recruited in 2017 from Hull City as a raw striker incapable of defending according to Jurgen Klopp, Robertson has transformed himself into one of the best in the world in his position. In a duo with Trent Alexander-Arnold, he broke assist records in the Premier League and won two English league titles as well as a Champions League. Some consider him the best left-back in the club's history, an achievement at an institution like Liverpool.

However, in selection, his status has sometimes generated particular pressure. In Scotland, a country hungry for big competitions but where left-backs are hardly in the spotlight, Robertson sometimes had to face competition from Kieran Tierney and debates over his place. At Hampden, encouragement often takes the form of anthems dedicated to scorers like Scott McTominay or John McGinn. Robertson's international career has been less about individual moments than about exemplary consistency and tenacity since his first cap in March 2014, under Gordon Strachan.

In 12 years, the Glasgow native has played 93 matches – only Kenny Dalglish is ahead of him in the cap hierarchy – and averaged 84 minutes per match. His frantic runs, his precise crosses and his committed tackles have become real trademarks. But it is above all its human impact which is unanimously praised. “I have always tried to give 100% while having fun,” he recently declared in an interview with the BBC, recalling the opportunity that being a footballer represents, a dream inaccessible to the majority.

Alex McLeish named him captain in September 2018, at just 24 years old and after only 22 caps, when he had just affirmed his status within Liverpool. “He’s a very humble guy,” confided James McFadden, national team assistant. “You might never guess that he plays for Liverpool, Premier League leaders and Champions League finalists. He’s a leader.”

The balance between rigor and proximity is an integral part of his personality. Steve Clarke, Scottish coach, notes that he knows how to be both “demanding” and “understanding” at the right time. His teammate in the selection, Scott McTominay, describes a “Robbo” capable of waking up his partners when performance is lacking, while being close to them, providing advice and support.

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This conductor also cares about strengthening the collective off the field. With other alumni, he initiated strong gestures, such as offering a personalized jersey during a first selection to each player, to celebrate individual successes. There are plenty of images of Robertson laughing and sharing with his teammates. Klopp called him “energy and atmosphere giver”. The emotion of the tributes received before his last meeting with Liverpool says a lot about his stature.

For Robertson, the atmosphere of the selection is “special”. Its cohesion is now a pillar of this team, participating in qualification for three major international competitions. “We grew up together, I played against these guys since I was 10,” he emphasizes. “Being at the World Cup with these close friends is an incredible feeling.”

His journey inspires: from a desperate post from a young player broke at 18, playing at Queen's Park in the Scottish fourth division and earning £18 a week, to the heights with Liverpool and the national team. At Queen's Park, then an amateur club, he worked odd jobs, from the ticket office to the locker room, to make ends meet. A year later he was playing regularly at Dundee United, then the Premier League with Hull City, and quickly with the national team.

"He doesn't like to talk too much about his story," says John McGinn, "but it's a fairy tale: from amateur football in Scotland to the Premier League title, winning the Champions League and captaincy at the World Cup. I can't wait to discover the documentary dedicated to Andy Robertson."

His former coaches, like Steve Bruce at Hull and Gordon Strachan in the selection, praise his ability to learn, his intelligence and his work ethic. Robertson attributes his growth above all to the luck of having encountered technicians who trusted him, combined with his unfailing commitment.

The full-back is on course to surpass Dalglish's record of 102 caps, while also holding the Scottish captain's record. Near Hampden, a mural dedicated to McTominay commemorates his goal against Denmark, a strong memory of the qualification. Perhaps a place deserves to be dedicated to Robertson, this kid who rose through the ranks to write a glorious page in Scottish football, offering a spectacle of inspiration to an entire generation.