Heart transplant recipient Martyn Jackson wins Transplant World Cup with England
Martyn Jackson had a heart transplant in November 2024 after being diagnosed with myocarditis. He returned to football and scored for England in a 5-1 win over Spain in the Transplant Football World Cup final. The tournament features players who have all received donor organs.
Jackson's football pedigree runs deep: he spent his youth career in Manchester United's academy before spells at Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End, and Burnley, followed by 13 years across the non-league pyramid. His diagnosis of myocarditis came just days after playing for Ramsbottom United in October 2024, and he received his donor heart on 28 November 2024 at Wythenshawe Hospital in Greater Manchester.
The Transplant World Cup uses a modified format — seven-a-side matches with 20-minute halves and less aggressive contact than traditional football. Because heart transplant recipients must manage exercise more carefully than kidney recipients, Jackson plays in 10-minute bursts rather than full matches. His wife Lucy discovered the England Transplant FC team on social media during his recovery, and manager Daley Cross credited her with helping motivate him through a difficult period.
This story could inspire people awaiting transplants and those recovering from them, demonstrating that organ failure does not have to end an active life. It may also raise public awareness about organ donation, particularly as the tournament concluded just before Organ Donation Week. The visibility of a former Manchester United academy player winning a World Cup with a donor heart could encourage conversations about donation among football fans and the wider public, potentially influencing registration decisions.