Napoli win Serie A title as McTominay’s overhead kick and Lukaku strike seal triumph

It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. On the final day of the 2024/25 Serie A season, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, SSC Napoli lifted their second Scudetto in three seasons after a commanding 2-0 victory over their final opponent. The goals? A moment of pure, unscripted brilliance from Scott McTominay, and the clinical finish that only Romelu Lukaku seems to produce when it matters most. The crowd didn’t just cheer—they roared like the city had just won the lottery. And in many ways, they had.

The Moment That Defined a Season

McTominay, the 28-year-old Scottish midfielder who once toiled in the shadows of Manchester United’s star-studded midfield, didn’t just score—he etched his name into Napoli folklore. In the 42nd minute, with the game still locked at 0-0, a cross from the right flank looped high into the box. No one expected it. Not the defenders, not the goalkeepers, not even the fans in the stands. But McTominay, sprinting from deep, launched himself into the air like a man possessed. One perfect, acrobatic strike—overhead, no hesitation—and the ball crashed into the net. The stadium erupted. Cameras flashed. His teammates piled on. It was the kind of goal you replay on loop for weeks.

And then, just 12 minutes into the second half, Lukaku did what Lukaku does: he made it look easy. A simple through ball, a step-over, a low, driven finish past the despairing dive of the keeper. 2-0. The title was sealed. Napoli had entered the match one point ahead of Inter Milan, who’d won their own fixture 2-0 earlier that day. But with Pepe Reina sent off in his final professional match for Como, even the most optimistic Inter fans knew the tide had turned. Napoli didn’t just win—they dominated. Seventeen shots. One attempt from their opponents. Zero mercy shown.

McTominay: From Benchwarmer to Ball-Winner

Let’s be honest—when McTominay signed for Napoli in 2022, few saw this coming. He was seen as a stopgap, a hard-working midfielder with limited flair. But under Antonio Conte, who took over in June 2023, he became something else entirely: a goal-scoring engine. His 12 goals this season aren’t just impressive for a midfielder—they’re historic. Only two other midfielders in Serie A history have scored more in a single campaign since 2000. And he didn’t stop there. In Napoli’s 3-0 win over Empoli on April 14, 2025, he scored his first brace in the league. Then, in October 2025, he netted again in a 3-0 thrashing of Inter at home, alongside Kevin De Bruyne and André-Frank Anguissa. That trio? Now the heartbeat of Napoli’s midfield.

His Champions League stats are even more startling: 4 matches, 339 minutes, 2 goals, 89.75% passing accuracy, zero cards, and over 20 kilometers covered. That’s not just fitness—that’s machine-like consistency. He’s not flashy, but he’s relentless. As one Napoli fan put it: "He doesn’t dance. He destroys. And he scores. What more do you want?"

Conte’s System: Discipline, Power, Precision

Conte, the 55-year-old tactician known for his intensity and obsession with structure, didn’t just assemble a team—he built a weapon. Napoli’s 4-2-3-1 under him is a masterclass in balance: Lukaku as the punishing focal point, McTominay and De Bruyne as the engine room, Anguissa as the destroyer. There’s no fancy flair here. Just relentless pressing, intelligent movement, and clinical finishing. The team conceded just 29 goals all season—the lowest in Serie A. They scored 78. That’s not luck. That’s system.

And Conte didn’t just coach them—he transformed them. After a shaky start to the 2023/24 season, Napoli clawed back from mid-table obscurity to win the league in 2024. Now, they’ve done it again. In a league dominated by Juventus, Inter, and AC Milan for over a decade, Napoli’s back-to-back titles are seismic. And Conte? He’s the architect. But here’s the twist: he’s not staying quiet about what comes next.

The Elephant in the Room: Can Napoli Keep It Together?

The celebration in Naples was electric. But behind the fireworks, there’s a quiet tension. Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has led the club since 2004. He’s a showman, a visionary, and sometimes, a gambler. Now, with McTominay attracting interest from Premier League clubs and Lukaku’s contract up in 2026, the question isn’t whether they’ll leave—it’s whether Napoli can afford to lose them.

De Laurentiis has promised "ambition" and "investment" in the summer transfer window. But Conte? He’s not impressed by promises. He wants guarantees: new signings, new infrastructure, new ownership structure. He’s seen this before—clubs win, then stall. He’s not here to be a caretaker. He’s here to build a dynasty. And if Napoli doesn’t match his hunger? He might walk.

The club’s executives know it. The fans know it. And McTominay? He’s already hinted at it. After the final whistle, he pointed to the stands and mouthed: "This is home." But in football, words don’t always pay the bills.

What’s Next?

Next season, Napoli will enter as defending champions for the first time since 1990. They’ll face the usual suspects—Inter, Milan, Juventus—but now they’ll also carry the weight of expectation. The Champions League looms. A new stadium? Still in talks. A new striker to replace Lukaku? Already being scouted. And McTominay? He’s likely to be offered a new contract this summer—likely one that makes him the highest-paid midfielder in Napoli’s history.

One thing’s clear: Napoli isn’t just back. They’re here to stay. And if they keep this momentum, they might just become the team that finally breaks the north’s monopoly on Italian football.