LONDON, United Kingdom — Reggae Boyz forward Michail Antonio is mourning the death of his mother, Cislyn, who passed following an extended illness. He announced her passing on Sunday.

Antonio, who also plays for Premier League Club West Ham United, shared the news on his Instagram story.

“Hello mum, it’s your baby boy here. Your time in this world has come to an end. The last five years it’s been difficult seeing you sat in bed and not being able to walk. But nothing could ever prepare me for you leaving me,” the West Ham striker said.

Antonio’s mother had been a fixture in his career with the footballer often repeating the story of how she stopped him from joining Tottenham Hotspur at 14 out of concern for his schooling.

“I also had to do college, so I’d have got home at eleven o’clock at night and then had to get up to go to school. My Mum said ‘football isn’t a guarantee, but education is’ and ‘education comes first’ and I think it’s one of the best things she could have ever done for me, to be honest, because I’ve now got my education and I’ve also got my football,” he told West Ham TV.

Fans have reacted with concern for the star, and well wishes.

“May she rest in peace and all the strength to him and his family. Bigger things than football,” one fan said via X (formerly Twitter).

His mother’s death comes just weeks after Antonio returned to the field after a car accident that saw him hospitalised for three weeks and put through intensive physical therapy.

“It hurts, you not being here, but at least you are no longer in pain, and you’re no longer restricted to a bed, and you can see us all now, you’re free now,” said Antonio, ending the emotional post.