Jayden Adams’ partner posted a loving message about his 2026 World Cup participation, just weeks before his death.
Aqueelah Adendorf — the partner of Adams, who died at age 25 several weeks after competing in the global soccer competition for South Africa — shared her support for the athlete ahead of the national team’s arrival in the U.S. for its first World Cup appearance in 16 years.
“Watching you achieve something this big has filled my heart with so much pride,” Adendorf, with whom Adams shared a 5-year-old daughter, wrote in a May 27 Instagram post, just under two weeks before South Africa faced Mexico during the group stage of the World Cup.
“From the hard work, sacrifices, early mornings, disappointments, and moments nobody saw — you kept going, stayed disciplined, and trusted God through it all,” Adendorf continued. “And now look at you… representing your country on the national team.”
She added, “I don’t think you even realize how inspiring you are. You deserve every single moment of this because I’ve seen how much you’ve worked for it. Through every challenge, you never gave up on your dream, and that alone makes me so proud to stand beside you and support you through it all.”
On Saturday, July 11, the South African Football Players Union announced in a statement shared on X that Adams had died at age 25.
After the news of his death broke, Adendorf shared another tribute to her late partner and thanked the couple’s friends and family for their support in an additional Instagram Stories post.
“There are no words to describe the pain I’m feeling,” she wrote on Saturday. “Rest in peace, my love. Thank you for every memory, every laugh, every hug, and every moment we shared. You were not only the love of my life but also my greatest supporter and my best friend.”
“Rest easy, my angel. I love you always and forever,” Adendorf concluded the heartfelt message.
In its announcement about Adams’ death on Saturday, the South African Football Players Union wrote that the late midfielder had died after “carrying the hopes of the nation with pride, courage and distinction” throughout the soccer tournament.
“The South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) is devastated by the untimely passing of Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder, Jayden Adams,” the union wrote. “His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family, teammates, clubs, the football fraternity and the country at large.”
Adams began his soccer career as Stellenbosch FC’s first alum to sign a professional contract in August 2020. During the World Cup, he appeared in all three of South Africa’s group-stage matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
A number of members of the soccer world, as well as local South African figures, including the country’s minister of sports, arts and culture, Gayton McKenzie, have paid tribute to Adams on social media.
“South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents, and our nation mourns alongside his family, his teammates and the millions of supporters who watched him grow from a promising academy prospect into a full Bafana Bafana international,” McKenzie wrote in a statement shared on X.
Adding that Adams’ cause of death has not yet been confirmed, McKenzie urged members of the public to “exercise restraint and compassion, and to refrain from speculation, while his family and Mamelodi Sundowns are given the space and privacy they need at this incredibly difficult time.”
