The goalkeeper in the Champions League suddenly became famous because… his mother looks incredibly young and beautiful.

07/10/2025 20:52:00 soccer

At just 18 years old, Sherhan Kalmurza – the young goalkeeper of Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan) – has become a hot topic on social media, not only due to his performance in the Champions League but also because his youthful-looking mother has led many to mistake her for his sister.

Last week, Kalmurza played the biggest match of his career facing Real Madrid – a club with 15 European titles. Although Kairat Almaty suffered a heavy 0-5 defeat, including a hat-trick by Kylian Mbappe, the young goalkeeper impressed with his courageous spirit. He became the third youngest goalkeeper in Champions League history to start a match at just 18 years old.

However, a week after that game, Kalmurza gained fame in an unexpected way. After the match, his mother, Saule Rabayeva, posted a photo with a proud caption on social media: “You are my pride. You did everything you could. To me, you are the strongest. Greater heights await. Don’t give up, I always believe in you.”

Kalmurza and his unbelievably youthful mother

This seemingly simple post caused a social media sensation. Many fans were stunned to learn that the woman in the photo was Kalmurza’s mother. “Wait, that’s his mom? I thought she was his sister!” one user commented. Another expressed surprise: “No way, she looks only a few years older than her son!” Many joked that Mrs. Rabayeva looks like she is just in her early twenties, while her son is already 18.

Within hours, images of the mother and son spread rapidly across social platforms. Saule Rabayeva, who already had nearly 40,000 followers on Instagram, suddenly became a new sensation, praised as the “youngest mother in the Champions League.” Some even called her the “leading lady of Kairat,” despite the spotlight being on her son during the match.

Meanwhile, Kalmurza remains focused on his professional goals. After two appearances in European competitions, he has conceded 9 goals but also made 11 saves – ranking third in the tournament for total saves. In the Kazakhstan league, he recently kept a clean sheet as Kairat thrashed FC Zhetysu Taldykorgan 5-0.

Coming up, Kairat Almaty will face Pafos (Cyprus) on October 21 – a match seen as an opportunity for the Kazakh team to seek their first Champions League win this season.

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