KRIS BOYD BRANDS CELTIC STAR THE WORST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE

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In a night that will haunt Celtic fans for weeks to come, the Hoops suffered a humiliating 1-4 defeat at the hands of VfB Stuttgart in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout round playoff.

The match, played at Celtic Park on February 19, 2026, exposed glaring weaknesses in the Scottish side’s defense and midfield, leaving their European dreams hanging by a thread ahead of the return leg in Germany.

Former Rangers striker and pundit Kris Boyd didn’t hold back in his post-match analysis, delivering a scathing verdict on one of Celtic’s marquee players, suggesting he might be better off ditching football altogether.

The game started disastrously for Celtic, with Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss opening the scoring in the 15th minute after a poor clearance allowed him to slot home past a hapless Kasper Schmeichel. The Danish goalkeeper, who has been under scrutiny this season, was at fault again when El Khannouss doubled the lead in the 28th minute, capitalizing on a mishandled back pass.

Sandwiched between those goals was a brief moment of hope for the home side, as Benjamin Nygren pulled one back in the 21st minute with a well-taken finish from close range. However, the equalizer did little to stem the tide, as Stuttgart dominated possession and created chance after chance.

The second half was even more one-sided. Jamie Leweling extended Stuttgart’s advantage in the 57th minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, beating Schmeichel who was slow to react. The final nail in the coffin came in stoppage time when substitute Tiago Tomas curled a delightful effort into the top corner, making it 4-1. Celtic’s attempts to mount a comeback were thwarted by a lack of cohesion, with misplaced passes and defensive lapses becoming the theme of the evening.

Manager Martin O’Neill cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines, later admitting in his press conference that his team was “outplayed and outthought” by a superior opponent.

Boyd, speaking on Sky Sports’ post-match show, was particularly brutal in his assessment. Known for his no-nonsense style and often controversial takes on Celtic matters, the ex-Scotland international zeroed in on what he saw as the root of the problems. “This was embarrassing,” Boyd fumed. “Celtic were torn apart, and it’s down to some individuals who just aren’t up to the task anymore. One of them in particular had a shocker – lost every duel, gave the ball away cheaply, and looked completely out of his depth against a Bundesliga side. Honestly, he should go play another sport because football isn’t for him right now.” Boyd’s comments sparked immediate backlash on social media, with fans divided between those agreeing with his harsh critique and others defending the player’s legacy at the club.

The defeat has piled pressure on O’Neill, who returned to Celtic in a bid to restore their European fortunes but now faces an uphill battle. Stuttgart, managed by Sebastian Hoeneß, looked clinical and composed, with El Khannouss earning man-of-the-match honors for his brace. Celtic’s performance raised questions about squad depth and tactical setup, especially in midfield where control was surrendered early. Pundits across the board echoed Boyd’s sentiments to varying degrees, with Neil Lennon on TNT Sports lamenting the “lack of leadership on the pitch.” Schmeichel, booed by sections of the crowd, defended his teammates post-match, saying, “We all make mistakes, but we stick together.”

As the dust settles, Celtic must regroup for domestic challenges, including their push for the Scottish Premiership title. But the sting of this European setback will linger, and Boyd’s words have ignited a debate about the future of certain stalwarts. The player in question, Celtic captain Callum McGregor, has been a cornerstone for years, but his display against Stuttgart – marked by uncharacteristic errors and a failure to dictate the tempo – drew Boyd’s ire. Whether McGregor bounces back or faces further scrutiny remains to be seen, but for now, Boyd’s suggestion that he “go play another sport” has added fuel to an already fiery aftermath.