Hours after the death of Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams on Saturday, July 11, 2026, screenshots believed to contain his last conversation with a close friend began making the rounds on social media, stirring fresh waves of emotion among fans and followers.
A Facebook user identified as Luphiyo Velebhayi shared the messages, revealing that the exchange had taken place just a day before the young footballer drew his last breath.
Overcome with grief, she accompanied the post with the words:
“Oh no, brother, how? You have left me on this earth, brother. We used to chat every day, but yesterday was my last time chatting with you. Oh, death is my enemy.”
Nothing in their final exchange, she suggested, gave any indication of what was coming, a detail that made the loss feel all the more sudden and cruel.
See the post below:
His death was confirmed by the South African Football Players Union on Saturday, sending shockwaves through the country and the broader African football community. Adams was only 25.
What made the tragedy feel even more profound was how recently he had been on the world stage. Just weeks before his death, Adams had pulled on the Bafana Bafana jersey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup across North America, starting their group opener against Mexico in a 2-0 defeat and featuring in the 1-1 result against Czechia. .
He made perhaps his biggest impact coming off the bench in the crucial 1-0 win over South Korea that sent South Africa into the Round of 32, though he played no part in their eventual elimination at the hands of Canada.
Grief had already found its way to those around him before his passing. His grandmother had died just weeks earlier, leaving his loved ones now navigating a second devastating loss in quick succession.
Tributes have been arriving from across the global football community, with FIFA, CAF, SAFA and several other football bodies conveying their deepest sympathies to his family, teammates and everyone touched by his life and career.
