• •Billy Gilmour confirmed to BBC Sport that he has faced significant mental health challenges since missing out on Scotland's 2026 World Cup squad.
• •The midfielder described the personal difficulty of reconciling professional career setbacks with individual wellbeing.
• •The full extent of his ongoing recovery plan remains private, and it is unclear how these struggles will impact his immediate club return.

Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour has openly shared that he experienced mental health difficulties following his exclusion from the 2026 World Cup squad. The admission, reported by BBC Sport, highlights the often invisible pressures professional footballers face when sidelined from major international tournaments. Though his transparency has been noted by fans and peers, the long-term impact on his career trajectory is not yet clear. His story serves as a reminder that the physical recovery of athletes is only one part of the challenge when facing high-stakes professional disappointment.