Mother’s Day: Caicedo, LeBron and Other Athletes Whose Mothers Influenced Their Careers

• Moises Caicedo's unveiling video at Chelsea last year made for a beautiful watch
• The midfielder and his mother relived his boyhood dream to play for the London club
• As the world marks Mother's Day, Sports Brief celebrates the mothers of select athletes

Getafe players recently treated fans, and most importantly, their mothers, to a beautiful reception by walking out with them ahead of their game against Athletic Bilbao on May 3.

The gesture was part of the Mother's Day celebrations in Spain as the players paid tribute to the vital role mothers play in society. The day is marked on the second Sunday of May, though select countries have varying dates.

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Sports Brief looks at some of the roles the mothers of some athletes have played in shaping their careers into the stars they are today.

1. Moises Caicedo - Football

The Ecuadorian was at the centre of a huge transfer storm in the summer of 2023 when Liverpool and Chelsea battled for his signature.

The latter won the race by making him the second-most expensive player in British transfer history. The Blues then pulled off an ingenious transfer video where Caicedo's mother played a starring role.

Caicedo was a boyhood Chelsea fan, and his mother supported his dreams of moving from Independiente del Valle to Brighton and finally to Chelsea. When the dream move finally happened, the mother simply summarised it as 'Today is the day my son'.

2. LeBron James - Basketball

LeBron James is the Lionel Messi of basketball. His NBA CV precedes him, and by the time he retires, a couple of the records he has set will be out of reach of many players.

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In a past interview, the Los Angeles Lakers man opened up on how his mother, Gloria Marie James, bought him a little hoop when he was only three years old.

Marie James might have thought at that time that she was getting her son just another toy, but years later, it gave birth to the best basketball player the world has ever seen.

3. Naomi Osaka - Tennis

Naomi Osaka's story began in 1997 after she was born to Leonard Francois and Tamaki Osaka. The Japanese tennis sensation credited her parents with her success in the game.

"Growing up, I saw my mother work incredibly hard to support me and my passion for play. She always put others first and encouraged me to embrace my diversity," said the four-time Grand Slam winner about her mother in an interview with People.

Her parents are always her biggest cheerleaders courtside during her games.

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4. Iker Casillas - Football

The legendary goalkeeper retired, having won every trophy available during his glorious career. His mother, María del Carmen Fernández González, set the ball rolling by withdrawing him from class to fly to Norway with Real Madrid for a Champions League game.

"I was in class with my classmates when my mother told me I had to fly with Real Madrid to Norway for a Champions League match. I went from being in the classroom with my friends to sitting at the same table as Morientes, Seedorf and Raul," as quoted by Madrid Xtra.

Not many parents would agree to their children leaving school to play football.

5. Didier Drogba - Football

Didier Drogba's mother, Clotilde, once narrated the challenges she faced before giving birth to the acclaimed striker. Her pregnancy dragged on for 10 months.

When Drogba was five, he was sent to France to stay with his uncle Michael Gobe, and he charted his way up to football royalty.

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In 2021, Drogba shared a beautiful Mother's Day message to his mother, who has cooked food for travelling Ivory Coast supporters at international tournaments as reported by BBC.

6. Rodrigo Bentancur - Football

Unlike other athletes on this list, Rodrigo Bentancur's mother unfortunately never lived long enough to see her son succeed as a professional footballer.

In an interview with Premier League, the Uruguayan midfielder shed light on how his mother helped him in his formative years.

"She knew that I wanted to be a footballer. I am where I am, thanks to her. She was there at every game when I was little. She didn't miss one. If I could tell her anything right now, is that 'I made it'"

The number 30 that he has worn in his club career, is his mother's birthday.

How Ronaldo's, Messi's mothers inspired their careers

In 2022, Sports Brief compiled a similar list where we looked at how the mothers of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Marcus Rashford played pivotal roles in their careers.

The first two went on to become the best players the world has ever seen, while Rashford spoke candidly of the sacrifices her mother made to see him and his siblings succeed.