Jamie Carragher’s Son, James, Makes International Debut for Malta
It’s one of those football stories that makes you do a double take. James Carragher, the son of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, recently made his international debut—not for England, but for Malta. While the football world was buzzing over Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn earning their first England caps, James was 1,700 miles away, wearing the red of Malta in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Finland.
Now, how did the son of a player who made 38 appearances for England end up representing Malta? The answer lies in his heritage. James, born in Liverpool in 2002, qualifies for Malta through his great-grandfather, Paul Vassallo, who was Maltese. This allowed both James and his father, Jamie, to obtain Maltese citizenship, making him eligible to represent the small Mediterranean nation.
At 22, James Carragher is carving his own path in football. He’s a centre-half currently playing for Wigan Athletic in League One, the third tier of English football. Though he started his footballing journey at Liverpool’s academy, he moved to Wigan’s youth setup at 14, gradually making his way into the senior team. With international recognition for England a long shot, when Malta came calling, he saw it as an opportunity to play at the highest level and took it without hesitation.
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Malta’s national team, ranked 168th in the world, has been strategically recruiting eligible players with international experience to strengthen their squad. FA President Bjorn Vassallo has openly discussed Malta’s intent to bring in talent from abroad, saying, “Everyone is doing it, so why not us?” James is part of this strategy, alongside other players like Ilyas Chouaref and Teddy Teuma, who have also obtained Maltese citizenship through their family connections.
James’s debut against Finland saw him put in a solid performance, though Malta ultimately lost 1-0. His father, Jamie, was there to support him and shared his pride on Instagram, writing: “Very proud of (James) on your international debut. Didn’t deserve the loss, son.” It’s a proud moment for any footballer, but even more so when you have a footballing great in your corner.
James’s career has been on an upward trajectory. After loan spells at Oldham Athletic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, he has broken into Wigan’s first team, making 23 league appearances this season. He’s a towering presence at 6ft 4in and has earned praise for his defensive awareness. Former Wigan manager Shaun Maloney spoke highly of him, saying, “He’s got a brilliant attribute of sensing danger. Once he trusts his ability with the ball more, he has a chance to be a very good player.”
Now, James faces another big test—potentially going up against Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski when Malta takes on Poland. For any defender, that’s a massive challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to prove himself on the international stage.
For James Carragher, choosing Malta wasn’t just about playing international football—it was about embracing his heritage while stepping into the limelight on his own terms. With his father’s legacy behind him and his own career ahead, it will be exciting to see how his journey unfolds.
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