James Carragher, defender for Wigan Athletic and son of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, has already experienced moments that many professional players can only dream of. Not only has he made his international debut for Malta, but he has also faced one of the world’s most prolific strikers, Robert Lewandowski, and proudly taken his shirt as a memento.

Carragher, who qualifies for Malta through his great-grandfather, played his second international match away against Poland in March 2025. Lewandowski, the Polish star and former Bayern Munich striker, came on as a second-half substitute during a 2-0 win for the hosts.

“I was disappointed that he wasn’t playing [from the start],” Carragher admitted to BBC Radio Manchester at the time. “Then when I saw he was coming on, at least I can say I’ve played against him and I got his shirt after the game. I’ve got my own shirt from the first game, then his from the second one, and hopefully it’s something I will have for a long time.”

With Malta set to host Poland again in an upcoming World Cup qualifier, Carragher may get a second chance to test himself against Lewandowski, who boasts 87 international goals in 161 caps. Before facing Poland, Malta will take on Finland in another qualifying match.

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How James Carragher Became a Maltese International

James Carragher’s footballing journey began at Liverpool, where he joined the academy at age eight, following in the footsteps of his father, Jamie Carragher. After six years, he moved to Wigan Athletic, making his professional debut at 18. Loan spells at Oldham Athletic and Scotland’s Inverness Caledonian Thistle followed, before Carragher enjoyed a breakthrough season with Wigan in 2024–25.

His international opportunity came unexpectedly. The Malta Football Association contacted both Carragher and his father to confirm his eligibility, which comes through his great-grandfather.

“It was a bit of a mad experience,” Carragher said after his debut. “My nan and dad had been there before, but it was the first time I had been there, so the first time I went I ended up playing for them.”

Both Jamie and James received Maltese citizenship in February 2025, with James making his debut in a home World Cup qualifier against Finland, which ended in a 1-0 defeat. His second cap came three days later against Poland in front of more than 45,000 fans.

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A Tough Learning Curve But Unforgettable Experiences

Carragher, like his father, is a tall and strong centre-back who can also operate at full-back. He played in Malta’s goalless qualifier against Lithuania in June, but experienced one of the harsher lessons of international football in an 8-0 defeat to the Netherlands, facing top Premier League talent like Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay, and Donyell Malen.

After a thigh injury in August sidelined him for more than two months, Carragher returned to help Wigan in three consecutive matches, earning a recall for Malta’s upcoming qualifiers. Speaking to the Wigan Post, he described the pride of representing Malta:

“I was buzzing with the games I’ve played. Some have gone well and some haven’t, but it’s just an unbelievable experience. I’ve always had an affiliation with them, but I didn’t know I could actually play for them.”

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Family Support: ‘Team Carragher’

Jamie Carragher has been present at every step of his son’s international journey, cheering on James during Malta’s World Cup qualifiers. On his podcast The Overlap, Jamie described watching James face Lewandowski:

“We had a proper trip, it was the Carraghers on tour. Lewandowski came on and he was up against him for the last 20 minutes.”

Jamie also told CBS Sports that he graded James’s debut against Finland seven out of ten and his match against Poland eight out of ten — a remarkable assessment given the level of opposition and pressure.

“Team Carragher, the Carra clan, are on the march to Malta and all over Europe,” Jamie said, celebrating his son’s growing career.

James Carragher, soon to turn 23, is carving out his own path in football, balancing club and international duties while carrying forward the Carragher legacy.