Eric Abidal’s Emotional Return After Liver Transplant

Eric Abidal is back. A year after receiving a liver transplant in April 2012, Abidal was back on the soccer field in the 70th minute of Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Mallorca, where emotional fans awarded him a standing ovation even though the game was already won.

It wasn’t about who won or lost, although it was a foregone conclusion that Barcelona would win. Football, known as soccer to Americans, isn’t a high-scoring game, and a lead like Barcelona’s would never be easily overcome.

It was about Abidal’s personal comeback. “Football is my life. I didn’t want to end my career without playing again,” he said.

In March 2011, he’d had a tumor removed from his liver, which temporarily took him out of the game. Yet he returned from that surgery to help win the Champions League trophy at Wembley — a mere two months later.

Unfortunately, the surgery itself wasn’t as successful. The cancer returned. Ultimately, his very survival was called into question, and it became obvious that he would need a new liver.

His cousin Gerard donated a part of his own liver, and Abidal underwent the transplant surgery last April.

He first returned in a “friendly” game on the training grounds on March 18, when he played 65 minutes without any health issues. He is now an inspiration to Barcelona’s coach Tito Vilanova, who himself recently returned to the coaching bench after receiving treatment for salivary gland cancer in New York.

After yesterday’s game, he removed his shirt to reveal this message in bold yellow block letters on a blue field: Merci Mon Cousin…”Thanks, my cousin,” in English.

Abidal’s soccer comeback fairytale had some observers wondering if we’d see a repeat of 2011’s Wembley victory next month.

But, with his victory over cancer, Eric Abidal is already a double winner.

[Sofiane Feghouli and Eric Abidal photo by Natursports / Shutterstock.com]