Liverpool legend John Barnes has revealed that he has had treatment and undergone surgery for prostate cancer.
The 62-year-old is one of the most gifted Liverpool players of all time, lighting up Anfield in the 1980s and 1990s with his genius on the left wing.
Speaking to Times Radio, Barnes has opened up about his prostate cancer battle, urging other men to be honest in such situations.
“I’ve had prostate cancer, I’ve had my prostate out, not many people know and it’s a bit of a taboo subject because we support women with breast cancer and it’s not even an issue,” Barnes said.
“Whereas with men, the government say, ‘Yeah, prostate cancer, we need more awareness, we need people to come forward and in black men it’s more prevalent’.
John Barnes, Peter Beardsley, Liverpool, 1988 (Picture by Ross Kinnaird EMPICS Sport) 1980s
“Men have to then bite the bullet and swallow their pride and admit if they have problems and say it.
“So it’s a good thing that that has come out.”
This news comes in the same week that fellow Liverpool icons Sir Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan have revealed their own cancer battles.
Dalglish had time to joke about “inadvertently” sharing the news on social media on Tuesday, adding that the “treatment is going well” and that he now asks for privacy at a difficult time.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, March 28, 2026: Liverpool's manager Sir Kenny Dalglish before the LFC Foundation match between Liverpool FC Legends and Borussia Dortmund Legends at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Meanwhile, Keegan has heartbreakingly revealed that he is fighting stage four cancer, having initially been diagnosed back in January.
“They said ‘we have a top doctor with this new way of fighting what you have got’, which is stage four cancer,” Keegan said.
“He was a Liverpool supporter so I went to meet him. I knew I wouldn’t be walking alone, if you know what I mean.”
It is a tough period for three true greats of the game, who will have the support of the many millions of Liverpool fans around the world.
This Is Anfield sends our best wishes to John, Kenny and Kevin in their treatment.