James Maddison: Second Twins Born During ACL Recovery

While sidelined for a year with a ruptured ACL, James Maddison found unexpected strength in the chaos of welcoming twin babies to join three kids under four.

The Tottenham midfielder missed almost all of the 2025-26 season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last August. During those grueling months of recovery, his partner gave birth to their second set of twins, bringing their total to five children aged four and under.

"I needed that positive distraction of my partner being pregnant and having to be there for her and forget about myself," Maddison told BBC Sport's Kelly Somers. The couple has been "in the trenches" at home, navigating "a lot of nappies flying about, a lot of accidents," but he wouldn't change it for anything.

The injury affected more than just Maddison's career. His eldest son Leo, who went from three and a half to four and a half during the recovery period, actually forgot his dad played football and thought he'd left Tottenham entirely.

"It would be nice for him to come to the games again and actually remember Dad playing instead of just Dad sat at home watching him with a machine on his knee," Maddison said.

New Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi played a surprising role in Maddison's return. The Italian manager organized a team meal with alcohol encouraged, telling players to relax and rediscover their love for the game.

De Zerbi even put the still-recovering Maddison on the bench before he was ready to play. "He said I can come on the bench in my slippers if I want," Maddison recalled, adding that De Zerbi just wanted him around to benefit the team's spirit.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine isn't just the athletic comeback. It's watching a professional athlete navigate the same messy, beautiful chaos that countless parents face every day. Maddison could have viewed his growing family as an added burden during recovery, but instead he recognized it as the lifeline that pulled him through.

His honesty about needing to "forget about myself" and be present for his partner shows the kind of perspective that actually helps people heal. And now his eldest son gets to see Dad back where he belongs, creating new memories that will stick this time.

The midfielder returned to action against Leeds on May 11 after 375 days away. He hasn't rushed back into pre-season action, choosing instead to build his fitness carefully.

"I want just a fully fit, healthy season where I can just enjoy football," he said, confident in what he can accomplish when he's at his best.