The footballer who had a heart transplant - then became a World Cup winner
Martyn Jackson never thought he'd play football again when he had a heart transplant in 2024. Less than two years later, he was a World Cup winner with England.
Martyn Jackson, once a football player for Ramsbottom United, faced a life-threatening myocarditis diagnosis in October 2024, leading to a super urgent wait for a heart transplant. On November 28th, 2024, he underwent surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital, Greater Manchester, and survived. Fast forward to September 2026, Jackson scored for England in their 5-1 victory over Spain at the Transplant Football World Cup.
All players at the event were organ transplant recipients. Jackson, who previously played for Manchester United's youth academy, emphasizes that organ donation gave him a second chance at life and football. The Transplant Football World Cup matches are played with seven-a-side, 20-minute halves, and less aggressive contact due to the players' sensitive bodies.
Jackson's wife, Lucy, discovered the England Transplant FC opportunity online, and manager Daley Cross was impressed by his football knowledge, even having played as a schoolboy for Manchester United. Despite the increased waiting time for transplants due to a 9% drop in organ donors, Dr. Paul Callan, a cardiologist at Wythenshawe Hospital, highlights the remarkable recovery of transplant recipients, enabling them to resume their lives and participate in sports like football.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport Football's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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