Martyn Jackson, a footballer who underwent a heart transplant in November 2024, made history by playing for England in the Transplant Football World Cup final in September 2026, where they triumphed over Spain with a score of 5-1. Jackson was diagnosed with myocarditis, a condition that causes inflammation of the heart muscle, shortly after playing for Ramsbottom United in October 2024. Due to the severity of his condition, he was placed on a super urgent waiting list for a heart transplant and received a donor heart on 28 November 2024 at Wythenshawe Hospital in Greater Manchester. The Transplant Football World Cup is a unique competition featuring players who have received donor organs. The matches are played as seven-a-side games with 20-minute halves, designed to accommodate the physical limitations of participants. Jackson joined the England Transplant FC team in January 2026 after his wife, Lucy, discovered the opportunity on social media. His football background, including a youth career at Manchester United and experience with non-league clubs, made him a valuable addition to the team. However, due to his heart transplant, Jackson plays in 10-minute bursts to carefully manage his exercise workload, unlike many of his teammates who have received kidney transplants. Jackson's condition was severe enough that doctors had to implant a mechanical pump to support his heart and keep him alive. The super urgent waiting list for heart transplants has seen an increase in waiting times, with the average wait rising from seven days to 14 days, according to Dr. Paul Callan, a consultant cardiologist at Wythenshawe Hospital. This increase is attributed to a 9% drop in organ donors in 2026 compared to the previous year. Currently, there are 8,700 people waiting for a donor organ in the UK, the highest number ever recorded by NHS Blood and Transplant. Jackson has not yet met the family of his donor but is considering reaching out to them around the two-year anniversary of his surgery. Dr. Callan described Jackson's recovery and participation in the Transplant World Cup as "remarkable." The England team's success in the tournament, scoring 36 goals overall, has highlighted the importance of organ donation. Manager Daley Cross emphasized that the team exists because of organ donation, stating that without it, they would not have the players or the opportunity to compete and win a World Cup. Jackson's story, along with that of his teammates, serves as a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of organ donation.