Photo via BBC Sport

The footballer who had a heart transplant - then became a World Cup winner

Martyn Jackson experienced a severe medical emergency involving heart inflammation in late 2024 shortly after a club fixture, leading to a successful heart transplant procedure at Wythenshawe Hospital in November of that year. Less than two years following his critical surgery, he represented his country on the football pitch and scored a goal during a dominant five to one victory against Spain in the final of the Transplant World Cup held in Frankfurt.