Nobby Stiles, a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, died from severe dementia linked to repeated heading of footballs, according to a coroner's inquest. Stiles, who passed away in 2020 at age 78, had headed the ball approximately 140,000 times during his career, leading to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and Alzheimer's disease.
The inquest highlighted the need for greater awareness of the long-term effects of head injuries in football. Stiles' family has advocated for improved support for former players suffering from similar conditions, emphasizing the importance of addressing this issue within the sport.