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"Barcelona" defender Eric Abidal has become the first athlete to successfully overcome cancer after a successful transplant and continue his professional career, reports the newspaper "Marca". The most serious test of life for the Frenchman happened two years ago. On March 16, 2011, the Catalan club announced shocking news - a tumor was found in E. Abidal's liver. The player was soon operated on and managed to recover before the Champions League final, in which "Barcelona" defeated "Manchester United" eleven. After the victory, Abidal's teammates gave him the right to be the first to raise the trophies they won. In the 2011-2012 season, E. Abidal started as usual with the team, but last year it was reported that a cancerous tumor in the footballer's liver had recurred, and he would have to undergo a liver transplant operation. Half-brother Gerard donated part of his liver to E. Abidal, so there was no need to wait long for a donor. In April 2012, the player successfully underwent surgery and received a liver transplant. Since then, E. Abidal, under constant supervision of Barcelona's doctors, began a long and very complex rehabilitation process. It was only in December 2012 that he was allowed to gradually increase physical activity in training, and soon there was more and more talk about his return to the field. As the Frenchman himself later admitted, his dream of playing again came true last weekend. In the second half of the match against "Mallorca", E. Abidal replaced Gerard Pique on the field and played the remaining 20 minutes of the match. There have been cases in sports history where top-level professionals have overcome the most insidious disease - cancer - and continued their careers. However, unlike E. Abidal, they did not require organ transplants, as noted by "Marca". Undoubtedly, the most famous professional who won the battle with cancer is the American Lance Armstrong. However, the doping scandal, after which he lost all his awards, has overshadowed his no less dramatic life story. L. Armstrong, diagnosed with testicular cancer by doctors at the age of 25, later had a brain tumor discovered in his body. It was predicted that the American would not survive, but the cyclist silenced skeptics - he not only won the battle for life but also returned to the big sport. In 1996, the cyclist founded his foundation, and in 1999, he was recognized as the world's best athlete. Another successful fighter against the disease is Ludmila Engquist, the gold medalist in the 100-meter hurdles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The breast cancer was diagnosed in 1999 for the athlete born in Russia but representing Sweden, now better known as Engquist. She underwent surgery urgently and returned to the track after four months. The successful battle with the disease was also marked by a bronze medal at the World Championships in Seville. One Spanish footballer has also overcome the insidious disease. In 2002, the former Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper Jose Francisco Molina announced his career stopping. Doctors diagnosed testicular cancer to the goalkeeper, but the Spaniard successfully overcame the disease with tremendous willpower and ended his professional career in his native Valencia. In the 2006-2007 season, he was still guarding the gates of "UD Levante", and soon started working as a coach. Last season, J.F. Molina was the coach of the "Villarreal" team playing in the Spanish second league."
