John McGinn's goggles celebration raises awareness for nephew's

When John McGinn scored Scotland's first men's World Cup goal in 28 years during a 1-0 win over Haiti, the Aston Villa midfielder celebrated by mimicking goggles with his hands turned upside down. The gesture, which has since gone global, is a tribute to his nephew Jack, who requires goggles to play football due to severe poor eyesight.

Personal inspiration behind the celebration

McGinn, 31, revealed that the celebration originated during the last major tournament when he did not score. At that time, Jack was undergoing serious discussions about his eyesight. "It's probably as strong a lens as you can get for a child. When he takes his glasses off, you can see how much he struggles," McGinn told ITV Sport.

The celebration aims to raise awareness and encourage children to feel comfortable wearing glasses or goggles while playing sports. McGinn emphasized that it is not just about Jack but about young kids everywhere. "It's the awareness for young kids all around Scotland, all around the world," he said.

Impact beyond the pitch

McGinn admitted to regretting teasing other children for wearing glasses when he was younger, now understanding the challenges they face. He has received messages from parents whose children have been inspired by his celebration. "A lot of parents have got in contact and said 'you've inspired my son to keep his goggles on' or 'you've inspired my kids to have their eyes tested'," he said.

The celebration has resonated globally, with McGinn's name chanted on the streets of Boston and in the bleachers at Fenway Park. McGinn hopes that his iconic gesture will help children feel proud of who they are. "If my celebration brings awareness to that then that's the main thing. To do it on the world's biggest stage was special," he added.