Arabic version: لاعب كرة قدم خضع لزراعة قلب يساعد إنجلترا على الفوز بكأس العالم

According to BBC News, Martyn Jackson scored for England as they beat Spain 5-1 in the Transplant Football World Cup final in Frankfurt in September 2026, less than two years after receiving a donor heart.

Jackson had played for Ramsbottom United in a 2-1 win over Cheadle Town in October 2024 before becoming ill days later. He was diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart usually caused by an infection, and was placed on the super urgent transplant waiting list within weeks. He underwent successful surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital in Greater Manchester on 28 November 2024.

England’s squad at the tournament consisted of donor-organ recipients. The team won six matches on the route to the final, scoring 36 goals. Transplant World Cup football is played seven-a-side, with 20-minute halves and less aggressive contact than the conventional game.

Jackson joined England Transplant FC in January 2026 after his wife Lucy learned of the team through social media. Before his illness, he had played in Manchester United’s academy and later had spells with Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End and Burnley, before spending 13 years in non-league football.

As a heart-transplant recipient, Jackson manages his workload through shorter spells on the pitch. England manager Daley Cross said the team’s existence demonstrates that life can continue after organ failure and transplant surgery. England’s victory came three days before the start of Organ Donation Week, which runs from 21-28 September.

NHS Blood and Transplant says 8,700 people are waiting for a donor organ, an all-time high. The source said organ donors in the UK fell by 9% in 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.