Magdi Yacoub: “I Just Want to Be Remembered for Serving Humanity”

World-renowned heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub shared personal reflections on his life, his philosophy of success, and the values that shaped his journey, saying he hopes to be remembered simply as “an ordinary person who dedicated himself to serving humanity.”

Yacoub appeared as a special guest on ON Sport, alongside Egypt captain and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, where he spoke openly about what drives him and what continues to inspire him.

Yacoub said: “You must believe in what you do. Every time you achieve success, your ambition should rise to an even higher goal. It’s like climbing a mountain of creativity—when you reach what you think is the peak, you find a higher one waiting.”

He continued: “I want people to remember me as a normal human being who was devoted to helping others. There is so much pain in society, and people know that I dedicated my life to serving humanity.”

His Passions: Music, Nature, and Orchids

Sir Magdi revealed that classical music—especially Bach and Mozart—brings him great joy, as well as the songs of Abdel Wahab. “One of my passions is orchids. They are like humans; they need care. Gardening, music, and the beauty of nature are among the things that make me happiest.”

Why He Loves Aswan

Yacoub said he is deeply attached to Aswan, home to his famous heart center:

“When I go to Aswan, I feel encouraged. I see the young researchers working beautifully, sometimes doing things better than I taught them. They produce nearly 100 research papers a year—that’s something extraordinary.”

New Heart Center in Cairo

He added that he also spends time in Cairo supervising a new medical center near the pyramids. “What inspires me the most in Egypt is the talent that has existed since ancient times. We must give people the chance. The abilities are there—we just need to help them reach their potential. The country needs them.”

Advice to the Next Generations

Yacoub offered heartfelt guidance to young people:

“My advice is to love what you do. Choose something you genuinely want—and then commit to loving it every day. Have passion. And you must persevere, because nothing comes easy. Believe in yourself and ignore the negative voices.”

He stressed humility as the foundation of meaningful progress:

“Humility is essential. We are not better than anyone. We must work together to defeat disease and ignorance. Every person has a unique talent. Not everyone is the same, and each of us has a different vision.”

He concluded with a message for parents and educators:

“Help children discover their talent—whether it’s football at the highest level, music, art, medicine, or anything else. Every child has something special.”