Only one Scotland men's team has ever beaten Brazil: the Under-20s squad that won 1-0 at the 2017 Toulon Tournament in France. Greg Taylor scored the winner. The women's team also beat Brazil in 2019. As Steve Clarke's men prepare to face Brazil in Miami at the 2026 World Cup, here is where the 2017 heroes are now.
Goalkeeper: Jack Ruddy
Ruddy kept a clean sheet for Scotland. After spells at Wolves, Ross County, Linfield, and Leganes, he dropped to non-league with Darvel in 2022. He later played for East Kilbride, Cowdenbeath, Dulwich Hamlet, and most recently Bo'ness United in 2024. He has been at 13 clubs in a decade.
Defenders
Anthony Ralston is the only 2017 squad member at the 2026 World Cup. He has 28 caps for Scotland and has been a reliable squad player for Celtic. He may feature against Brazil if Aaron Hickey is injured.
Alex Iacovitti started at Nottingham Forest but only made a few first-team appearances. He played for Ross County, Port Vale, and St Mirren before returning to Ross County in 2024. His contract expires in June 2026.
Jamie McCart began at Celtic but played just one first-team game. He helped St Johnstone win the double in 2021, then moved to Rotherham United. After loans to Leyton Orient and Barnsley, he joined Hearts in January 2025 and nearly won the Premiership last season.
Greg Taylor scored the winner against Brazil. He joined Celtic in 2019 as Kieran Tierney's replacement, winning multiple titles. He left in 2025 for Greek club PAOK. He has 14 Scotland caps.
Midfielders
Iain Wilson played for Kilmarnock, Dunfermline, and Queen of the South before joining Greenock Morton permanently in 2024.
Ruben Sammut was a Chelsea youth player but never played for the first team. After spells at Falkirk, Sunderland, and Dulwich Hamlet, he retired and became a senior scout at Chelsea.
Kyle Magennis broke through at St Mirren but suffered a serious knee injury in 2020. He moved to Hibernian in 2021 but struggled with injuries, making only 34 league appearances. He joined Kilmarnock in 2023 and signed a one-year extension in 2025.
Adam Frizzell played for Kilmarnock, Dumbarton, and Airdrie before moving to Northern Ireland. He joined Linfield in 2025.
Forwards
Craig Wighton was a Dundee hero after scoring a derby winner. He joined Hearts in 2018 but was loaned out. He helped Dunfermline return to the Championship in 2023. A knee injury in 2024 forced him to retire in 2025; he now runs a gardening business.
Oliver Burke was a teenage sensation, joining RB Leipzig for £13 million (a Scottish record). He later moved to West Brom for £15 million, breaking his own record. After loans to Celtic, Alaves, Millwall, and Birmingham, he joined Union Berlin in 2025. He became the first Scot to score a Bundesliga hat-trick and recorded the fastest sprint in the league at 37 km/h. He was not selected for the 2026 World Cup squad.
Substitutes
Ross McCrorie played for Rangers, Aberdeen, and Bristol City. He is close to returning to Rangers. He made his Scotland debut in 2024 but missed the World Cup squad.
Jordan Holsgrove started at Reading, then played in Spain for Celta B and in Portugal for Pacos de Ferreira. He joined Olympiakos in 2023 but did not play, then moved to Estoril permanently in 2024.
Joe Thomson played for Celtic, Dunfermline, and Derry City before joining Larne. He now plays for Glentoran in Northern Ireland.
Ryan Hardie was at Rangers but played most of his football on loan. He joined Plymouth Argyle permanently, scoring 53 goals in 179 games. He moved to Wrexham in 2025 but was loaned to Huddersfield after only six appearances.
