Rayan Cherki pays tribute to Yacine Kafu, Lyon influencer who died at 32

Lyon influencer Yacine Kafu, known on social media by the pseudonym “Kafudlanight”, died on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at the age of 32. His family announced the news on his Instagram account, which had more than 19,000 followers.

A prominent figure in the Lyon online community, Yacine Kafu became known for his humorous videos and his resemblance to content creator Mohamed Henni. His family shared a lengthy message of mourning, describing a man who was a “pillar” of his circle: “You were so much more than a brother, a son, an uncle or a brother-in-law. You were the one who brought people together, who made us laugh, who was always there. Your place was unique, and no one could ever take it.”

His loved ones concluded their message by emphasizing the magnitude of the void left behind: “Your absence is already unbearable, and yet we know we will have to learn to live with it. You left us so many memories, so much laughter and so much love that we will cherish them dearly until our last breath.”

Among the personalities who reacted was Rayan Cherki. The Manchester City attacking midfielder, who was trained at Olympique Lyonnais, left a brief comment on Instagram: “Rest in peace.” The 21-year-old player is currently in the United States, where he is competing in the 2026 World Cup with the France national team.