Former Man Utd player Scott McTominay has £20 notes. Are there others?

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay has been honored with a special edition £20 note from the Bank of Scotland featuring his iconic overhead kick against Denmark. The strike came at a crucial moment at Hampden Park and helped Scotland secure a dramatic 4-2 win and their first World Cup qualification since 1998.

Former Manchester United star McTominay described the honor as “incredibly special” and noted that the initiative also supports Crisis, a charity which aims to tackle homelessness. The limited-edition note celebrates the goal’s lasting impact, turning a decisive flash of brilliance into a symbol of national pride.

Rare, but not unprecedented

While McTominay’s tribute has attracted attention, he is far from the first sports figure – or sporting moment – to be commemorated in money or similar collectibles.

One of the earliest frequently cited examples is Danish polymath Niels Bohr, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who appeared on Danish banknotes and remains one of the most notable non-sports figures ever to appear on currency.

In soccer culture, Dutch great Johan Cruyff was honored in 2017 by the Royal Netherlands Mint with commemorative coins that reflect his huge influence on the sport.

England icon Steven Gerrard has also appeared on collector coins issued by the state of Alderney, while Northern Ireland legend George Best was commemorated on special notes issued by Ulster Bank in 2006.

Elsewhere, members of Australia’s 2006 World Cup squad were featured on commemorative coins issued by the Royal Australian Mint, marking a milestone in the nation’s football history.

MESSI AND RONALDO ON CURRENCIES?

Soccer icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are also widely associated with currency designs, but only in unofficial or commemorative mock-ups that have gone viral online.
Both the Central Bank of Argentina and the Bank of Portugal clarified that none of the players have ever appeared on banknotes or coins in circulation.

The inclusion of McTominay on the £20 note continues a long tradition of intertwining sport, national identity and collector art. While such honors are rare in official currency, they highlight how iconic sporting moments can transcend the pitch and become part of cultural memory.

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Published on:

26 May 2026 19:22 IST