Scotland’s World Cup campaign has inspired a new addition to one of the country’s most famous sporting teams, with Edinburgh Zoo naming a penguin chick after national team midfielder John McGinn.

The youngster, a gentoo penguin born at the zoo’s popular Penguins Rock habitat, has been officially named McGinn ahead of Scotland’s final World Cup group match on Wednesday.

The decision comes after the Aston Villa midfielder etched his name into Scottish football history by scoring Scotland’s first World Cup goal in 28 years, a moment that sparked celebrations among supporters across the country.

Keepers at Edinburgh Zoo felt the achievement deserved recognition and found the perfect candidate within their growing penguin colony.

Home to more than 150 penguins, the colony has become one of the zoo’s most popular attractions, drawing visitors from across Scotland and beyond.

According to the team caring for the birds, one particular chick stood out for reasons that football fans might appreciate.

Alison MacLean, a zoo keeper at Edinburgh Zoo, said:

“After John McGinn scored Scotland’s first World Cup goal for 28 years we wanted to honour his achievement.

“We noticed one of our gentoo penguin chicks has a strong left flipper and knew we had to name them after the man himself.

“While our McGinn won’t be scoring goals anytime soon, we hope visitors will enjoy seeing the curious chick grow up.

“Who knows, they might just get a call from Steve Clarke for the 2030 squad.”

To mark the occasion, keepers have given the chick his own version of a Scotland kit in the form of a blue and white identification armband, helping him stand out among his fellow penguins.

The light hearted tribute comes as Scotland supporters prepare for another huge night of football, with hopes high that Steve Clarke’s side can progress beyond the group stage of a major tournament for the first time.

While the Scotland squad battles it out on the world stage, their newest namesake at Edinburgh Zoo will be enjoying a rather less demanding schedule, spending his days exploring Penguins Rock and growing into life among one of Europe’s largest penguin colonies.

For football fans visiting the capital this summer, spotting young McGinn may prove almost as popular as watching his namesake in a Scotland shirt.

And if the penguin shows even half the determination and energy of the player he is named after, Edinburgh Zoo may have another crowd favourite on its hands.

Visitors can book zoo tickets online in advance and save at edinburghzoo.org.uk/tickets