One of football's most inspiring comeback tales is Christian Eriksen's return to professional football.
The Danish midfielder was given an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a form of pacemaker, after having a heart episode during the Euro 2020 match against Finland a little more than a year ago.
Due to the fact that individuals wearing an ICD cannot compete in Serie A, he was forced to prematurely renounce his contract with Inter Milan in December.
But the 30-year-old midfielder defied the odds by playing for Brentford again last season, and now it looks like he'll start a new chapter with Manchester United.
BBC Sport examines other athletes who have recovered to the top following catastrophic illness and injury.
Jonas Gutierrez
You would have probably deemed this storyline to be too improbable if it had been the narrative of a movie.
The Argentinean player had treatment for testicular cancer in October 2013 and missed 18 months of Newcastle United's schedule, including a loan to Norwich.
However, he came back to play a significant part in their fight against Premier League relegation in 2015, including scoring a beautiful goal and setting one up in their victory over West Ham on the last day that ensured survival.
Several weeks later, he triumphantly quit the club.
Eric Abidal
former fullback for France Abidal not only recovered from a liver tumor, but also won the best trophy in European club football in just two months.
The left-back had a three-hour surgery to remove the tumor in March 2011, but thanks to his quick recovery, he miraculously played the entire game as Barcelona defeated Manchester United in the Champions League final.
Due to complications from the prior surgery, Abidal underwent a liver transplant the following season and spent the remaining time getting better.
Nevertheless, he was able to continue playing for two more seasons at Monaco and Olympiakos until retiring in 2014.
Petr Cech
Cech, one of the best keepers in Premier League history, nearly died in 2006 after colliding with Reading's Stephen Hunt and receiving a punch to the head.
The Czech goalkeeper sustained a fractured skull as a result, and following surgery, he claimed he had no recollection of the occurrence.
Interestingly, he miraculously went back into action three months later while sporting a protective headguard that he would keep on for the remainder of his playing career.
He nonetheless had a successful career despite the injuries, winning the Europa League, four FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League, and four of the Premier League's championships.
Raul Jimenez
In a horrific collision with Arsenal defender David Luiz in November 2020, Wolves forward Jimenez suffered a cracked skull similar to that of Cech. The impact rendered the Mexican player unconscious.
The fact that Jimenez survived the collision with the Arsenal center-back was described as a "miracle" by medical professionals as he was given oxygen on the field before being taken away on a stretcher.
The striker eventually made his comeback on the first day of the 2021–22 season, eight months after suffering the injury. During the six months he was not allowed to train with other players, he also took thorough cognitive testing to guarantee he could still play professionally.
In the Premier League, he helped Wolves finish in 10th place in their debut season under manager Bruno Lage with six goals and four assists.
Djibril Cisse
Cisse, a former France international who spent time with Liverpool, Sunderland, and Queens Park Rangers, broke both of his legs severely throughout his career.
On his 19th outing for the Reds, he made his debut against Blackburn in October 2004. When the striker went to challenge Rovers' Jay McEveley for the ball, his left boot got entangled in the ground, breaking his tibia and fibula.
Despite being anticipated to miss the remainder of the season, Cisse, who has earned 41 international caps for his nation, made an early comeback in April 2005, just five and a half months after the injury. However, less than a year later, the striker injured his second leg during France's final World Cup warm-up match in Germany, reportedly delaying a long-term transfer to Marseille.
Santi Cazorla
Cazorla's career was in its prime when he suffered a freak Achilles injury, which also called into question his ability to walk.
In September 2013, while representing Spain in a friendly match against Chile, the little midfielder was involved in a harmless challenge that resulted in his breaking a small bone in his ankle. He was initially unable to play due to the injury, but after a few months he started to experience agony "every day" and was forced to leave a Champions League game against Ludogorets Razgrad in October 2016.