Delaware toddler's love for Reggae Boyz jersey wins over Jamaicans online

A tender exchange between a United States-based mother and her young son has won the affection of social media users worldwide, with Jamaicans leading the chorus of admirers.

Brenda Estrada, a Delaware-based mother of two, saw her January post explode online after she filmed her four-year-old, Mateo, slipping on a Jamaica football jersey with obvious pride — even though the family has no documented ties to the island.

The footage, which has gathered over 678,000 likes and is still drawing fresh viewers, shows the little boy cheerfully showing off his support for the Reggae Boyz. In the caption, his mother joked that she "didn't have the heart to break his little heart" by reminding him he is not actually Jamaican.

Mateo's enthusiasm, however, wasn't entirely random. Estrada told the Jamaica Observer that the family travelled to Jamaica in April 2025, and the visit clearly stayed with her son.

"We visited Jamaica back in April 2025, and that's where we picked up the shirt and he loved Jamaica," she said, noting that the youngster also took a liking to jerk chicken. "After that, he would wear that shirt constantly. Unless it was in the wash, he would always ask for it."

The clip itself, she said, happened entirely by accident. "I was actually recording a video to send to his dad, and I just caught that moment," Estrada explained.

The mother added that Mateo's existing love for football helped shape the scene. "He's a big soccer fan. We watch soccer all the time, and his sister plays as well," she said. "We go to see the Philadelphia Union, which is our local team, so he's always been around the sport."

The Philadelphia Union, a Major League Soccer outfit in the United States, is captained by veteran Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Andre Blake — a connection that gave Mateo familiarity with Jamaica's national programme long before the jersey came home.

In the caption accompanying the viral post, Estrada wrote: "He may have been Jamaican in another lifetime… definitely need to go visit again."

Despite Mateo having no Jamaican lineage, Estrada said the warmth coming from Jamaicans online has been remarkable. "The response has been amazing. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming," she said.

She also offered a personal note of gratitude to those who have rallied around the toddler: "Thank you for all the love you've shown him. It really means a lot to us."

With plenty of commenters now urging the family to come back, Estrada hinted that a second Jamaican holiday may not be far off.