Craig Gordon was warned that treatment to address a neck injury could kill him just three months before being named in the World Cup squad.
The Scotland keeper is hoping to create history by playing in the tournament at the age of 43.
If selected to play against Haiti, Morocco or Brazil, he would be second only to Essam El Hadary on the all-time list with the Egyptian keeper having played at the age of 45 in 2018.
But thoughts of even being in contention to feature could not have been further from his mind in March when he travelled to see a specialist to try and get a solution to the problem which had dogged him since the start of the year.
Gordon’s conversation with Usamah Jannoun, a spine doctor, is part of the latest episode of the BBC Scotland series, Icons of Football, which features the keeper.
Craig Gordon underwent risky surgery on a neck injury earlier this year
Jannoun bluntly details the risks involved in the treatment, saying: “You’ve read the information leaflet. You could get paralysis, you could die…”
On the physical problem which threatened to end his dream of finally playing at the World Cup, Gordon says: “There was definitely a worry it was something that was going to be longer term, not only in football, but also for the rest of my life.’
On the choice he faced, he adds; “Continuing (trying to play) or whether I need to look at the rest of my life and think, ‘No, I need to be in a good enough state to play with the kids, to make sure they’re getting brought up with a dad that can play with them and be active and do the things that they want to do’.”
Gordon successfully underwent the treatment and although he didn’t play again for Hearts last season, his displays in bounce games and training saw him make Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad – making him the oldest player in the tournament.
His hopes of now writing his name into the record books by making an appearance hinge of him being selected ahead of Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly for one of the Group C games.
Asked if he still considered himself to be the best option after 84 caps, he said: “I think everybody has to think like that. I would like to think the other guys in the squad think the same thing.
‘That doesn’t mean to say that if the other guys play you don’t support them, because absolutely we do. This is a country effort, this is everybody together.
“But you have to have that mindset to prepare properly, as if you are going to play and you are going to be the number one. That is no different regardless.”
Gordon split the Curacao farewell game at Hampden with Kelly with Gunn getting 90 minutes in the win over Bolivia in New Jersey.
Adamant that there’s not yet been any word on who starts against the section outsiders in Boston this weekend, Gordon said: “There’s been no indication whatsoever.
‘That’s nothing new. We’ve got a few days left of training to try and impress and show that we’re the one to take that position. That goes for all of us and I’m no different.
‘I’ll train as well as I possibly can over the next few days and see who the manager picks.’
Throughout his career with Hearts, Sunderland and Celtic, Gordon has won 13 major honours and overcome serious injury to keep playing well into his 40s.
He feels, however, that an appearance at this summer’s finals would be the pinnacle of his career.
‘I think that’s what every young kid wants – to play at a World Cup,’ he said. ‘It’s the biggest tournament you can be involved in. As a youngster that’s something I probably always dreamed of doing. To be able to say I’ve done that would definitely be something you’d carry with you for the rest of your life.’
Gordon played for Scotland when qualification was clinched against Denmark only to suffer an injury which kept him out of action for his club since January.
‘It’s been a tough year,’ he reflected. ‘There’s been a lot to contend with.
‘I’ve made a few comebacks in my career and this was another one I wanted to make.
Craig Gordon is hoping to get the nod to start Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti
‘I wanted to do everything I could to make it here, especially after the night against Denmark and the feelings everyone had.
‘To be part of this squad again was a huge driving factor to get myself the opportunity to be part of the squad.’
Gordon was a spectator as his side were pipped by Celtic for the title on the final day, a savage blow which the lifelong Hearts supporter believes he’ll always struggle to process.
‘I don’t think you ever will (get over it),’ he added.
‘It’s time to look to the World Cup now and those things will remain in the past. There’s nothing anyone can do about it.’
Out of contract at Tynecastle, he seems certain to leave the club after six years.
Although he is clearly nearing the end of his playing days, Gordon says he hasn’t yet decided if he’ll retire after the World Cup.
‘There will come that moment, whether that’s now or whether that’s next year,’ he said.
‘We will cross that bridge when we come to it.’
