Sir Geoff Hurst fears his lifelong friend and World Cup-winning team-mate Martin Peters would no longer recognise him or remember their achievements in 1966.
Peters, who played alongside Hurst for England and West Ham, suffers from Alzheimer's.
Hurst scored three and Peters got the other in a 4-2 victory over West Germany at Wembley 51 years ago which still remains the high point in the history of the England national team.
But Hurst knows there is little chance of being able to enjoy moments reminiscing with his old friend about the glory days under Sir Alf Ramsey and at Upton Park, or indeed of Peters ever recovering from such a debilitating disease.