FIFA president Gianni Infantino has shared a tribute for Jayden Adams after the untimely passing of the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder.
Adams, 25, passed away on Saturday, with the sad news confirmed by his club later in the day.
The news have shocked the South African football fraternity and also reached international shores after Adams recently represented Bafana Bafana in three games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ahead of the Czechia game, the midfielder received the heartbreaking news of the passing of his grandmother Marianna but still opted to play.
In a sad twist of fate, Adams himself has now passed away, ending a promising career far too soon. As the news reached international media, FIFA supremo Infantino shared a tribute message on his social media.
“It’s so incredibly sad to hear that South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams has passed away just weeks after featuring in his nation’s historic FIFA World Cup campaign,” he wrote.
“My thoughts and condolences, as well as those of everyone at FIFA and the global football community, are with his family, friends and teammates.
“The Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns star will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.”
Adams featured 139 times for his boyhood club Stellenbosch FC, and 67 times for Sundowns. He also represented South Africa nine times, with his last game being the historic win over South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
