5 moments that made the football world cry

#4 The brave Bradley’s goodbye

Defoe and Lowery shared a great bond

This is the most recent incident to bring the football world to tears. And even after over three months of his passing away, Jermain Defoe admits that "I'll never forget him. I still have messages on my phone - and videos.

"I think about him every single day and get upset about his death because it is still fresh... the pain he went through."

Bradley was a 6-year-old Sunderland fan who appeared as a mascot in the club’s game. He absolutely adored Defoe and was often seen holding hand with him while going out on the pitch on match-days. At a mere age of 18 months, Bradley was diagnosed with a brutal form of cancer named neuroblastoma.

When the cancer first appeared, it developed a tumour that was so big that it put pressure throughout his body. Unfortunately, it kept spreading and reached his lungs, chest, lungs, lymph nodes bone marrow and bone, but he went into remission thanks to large doses of chemotherapy and a major surgery.

But it was back again in July 2016 and despite making a lot of effort to save the child, the doctors reported that his cancer had become terminal. On July 7 – almost exactly a year later – he lost his battle and was carried away to the heaven by the angel of death.

His death shook the entire fraternity, who were inspired by his tough fight against the deadly disease.