He had to be. Scott McTominay Napoli's Serie A Title Parade got on the crucial last day of the Serie A season. It has been the story of the season of him and the club.
Earlier this campaign, the Scot was asked what his favorite nickname is under the Napoli Fanbase. He received a selection – and two stood out.
One was 'mcfratm'. It is the Napolitan word for 'brother' the believers of Napoli now worshiped the 28-year-old as one of the family.
The other nickname: 'Apribottiglie'. It means bottle opener – handed over to him because of the enormous number of times he has given Napoli the lead. He lets the party start. He did that when his team needed it the most on Friday evening, when his team needed one win to claim the title.
Nicknames are a big problem at the Naples Club. Before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in January, the talents of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia were so unique that he earned the term 'Kvaradona'. It is an honor given the status of Diego Maradona literally hangs over the club.
But now McTominay is the one with hero status.
And for a good reason. Despite the departure of Kvaratskhelia, the arrivals of Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku to the club in the past year, the Scottish midfielder has the status of Cult Hero after delivering another Scudetto title.
His 18 goal contributions are the most of a midfielder in his Serie A debut season – and three more than Kaka during his first term at AC Milan.
And in the Run-in of Napoli, Mctominay was the bottle opener and started the score in three consecutive league matches in April against Empoli, Monza and Torino.
He has been crucial in collecting points during decisive matches throughout the season and scored in the first match against Title -rivals Inter – yes, that was also an opener.
And although Napoli leaned over the line for the title during the back of the season, Mctominay played more than his role. He actually wore them. In the 2-2 draw with Genoa, for example, he set both goals – again, to put them first.
Mctominay has been vital in this title -winning team, that some fans of Manchester United may have trouble believing. Reliable and consistent? Yes. But two goals behind top scorer Lukaku?
Not everyone is stunned by this. “How you can sell Scott is beyond me,” said former United Baas Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season. Mctominay also scored seven Premier League goals last season and was a threat of penalty area under Erik ten Hag.
But his 12 goals this season are one of the many important statistics that have risen since Manchester United has left.
One of them is minutes. Mctominay is more familiar by Napoli than in Old Trafford in Old Trafford – and even more compared to the two full seasons by Erik ten Hag in United.
But there has also been a position tweak. In Napoli, Mctominay has a more attacking role, comparable to his status as No. 10 for Scotland. In the 0-0 draw against Parma last week he even got a role on the left wing – which was of course the position of Kvaratskhelia.
As a result, Mctominay has been even more an attacking presence. He has created twice as many opportunities in the competition compared to last season at Manchester United.
He accepts players five times as much as the last term, while his urgent figures have been multiplied by more than four.
Where was this at Old Trafford? First, there is the feeling that McTominay was misunderstood as a player. The scot was often used as a deeper option in midfield at Old Trafford – sometimes even the deepest.
A period that played as a centerback for the national team of Scotland did not help the cause of United – but how they potentially did not restore it when Steve Clarke pushed him further into a regular target threat.
Of course Bruno Fernandes United's striking no. 10 was in the prominent years of MCTominay at United. But it only contributes to the frustration of letting a talent such as McTominay's. He was not only misunderstood – but also overlooked.
He is not the only United player who currently enjoys success elsewhere, while the side of Ruben Amorim in crisis mode. Mctominay has a scudetto title, Antony takes part in the final of next week's conference League – where Jadon Sancho could also be involved.
Dean Henderson has a FA Cup trophy to his name with Crystal Palace, while Anthony Elanga has justified his move to Nottingham Forest. Marcus Rashford looks better and sharper in Aston Villa, with Tyrell Malacia a recently crowned Dutch champion at PSV Eindhoven.
However, none of the above will hurt more than Mctominay. This was a product of the United Academy – and remember that this club has had one of that in every competition day team since 1937 – winning a big trophy elsewhere, after almost a year ago to say goodbye to the club.
With the futures of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnaacho this summer also in the air, it will come home whether United is a suitable development area for those who come through.