The former Manchester United's player's wife passed away just after a month-long battle with illness. She had been suffering from cancer.

""My soulmate slipped away last night," the Queen's Park Rangers player said in a statement. She passed away last night at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London in the UK.

"She was a fantastic, loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter. She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration,"  he added.

Top Kenyan Radio Personality Carol Radull has expressed her condolences to the family of Rebecca and Rio Ferdinand. She has long been engaged in Cancer Awareness through Eddah's Hope Foundation, which she supports.

"Rio Ferdinand's wife Rebecca dies after a short battle with cancer. May she rest in peace #CancerSoldier

While not all cancers are curable; at such moments we're reminded that early detection and healthy lifestyle choices could make the difference in most forms of cancer. As we pray for Rio and his family remember to go for regular check ups. And if you want to join the fight against cancer in Kenya, please follow @eddahs_hope and find out how you can be a part of our initiatives #CancerKE"

We wish Rio strength in this difficult time.