Kevin Campbell’s final Instagram post features a poignant selfie with a three-word caption that is heartbreakingly brief.

Tributes have poured in for former Arsenal forward Kevin Campbell, who passed away at the age of 54 after a brief illness. The news of his death was confirmed by Arsenal, leaving fans and colleagues mourning the loss of the much-loved footballer.

Kevin Campbell’s last public Instagram post, made in March 2023, is a poignant reflection of his values. In the selfie, Campbell can be seen promoting Earthborn Naturals, a company that specializes in healthy food and drink products, with the caption “Health is Wealth.” This final message underscores his belief in the importance of well-being.

The beloved ex-footballer passed away on Saturday after being admitted to the hospital at the end of May. Arsenal confirmed his death after a short illness.

Campbell enjoyed a nearly two-decade career on the pitch before transitioning to punditry following his 2007 retirement. His impact on many lives was evident in the flood of tributes that followed the tragic news.

Arsenal paid tribute, stating, “We are devastated to learn that our former striker Kevin Campbell has died after a short illness. Kevin was adored by everyone at the club. All of us are thinking of his friends and family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin.”

Campbell’s former Arsenal teammate Ian Wright, while working as a pundit during Euro 2024 on ITV Sport, expressed his grief: “I can’t really go too deep into it. It’s very fresh. I only heard this morning. My best wishes and condolences go to his family. Anytime I start to talk about it, I well up. He meant the whole world to a lot of people, especially myself.”

Campbell’s son, Tyrese, also shared a heartfelt tribute on social media. The former Stoke striker wrote, “I appreciate my Dad was admired by many & the outpouring of love has been some comfort for us as a family, so thank you for that at such a difficult time. The pain of this is indescribable and as a son you look at your Dad as invincible. He is my idol, the one I wanted to be when I grew up. He was the life and soul of every party and room he blessed, a one-in-a-million person that was loved by everyone. I’ll miss you, Dad. I would now ask that the privacy of our family is respected as we mourn the loss of an irreplaceable Father, Brother, Uncle, and all-around amazing human being. Love you always, Dad.”

Campbell started his career at Arsenal, breaking into the first team after a prolific junior scoring record, including a hat-trick in the 1988 FA Youth Cup final, and loan spells at Leicester and Leyton Orient. He scored 59 goals in 224 games for Arsenal, winning the 1990-91 league title, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

After leaving Arsenal in 1995, Campbell spent three years at Nottingham Forest, followed by a season at Trabzonspor before moving to Everton in 1999. He remained at Everton until 2005, serving as captain under Walter Smith. He finished his career with stints at West Brom and Cardiff.

Nigel Quashie, a former teammate at West Brom, reflected on Campbell’s influence: “Growing up, you and many footballers from South London gave me hope of becoming a footballer. When I signed for WBA, I was thrilled to share a room with you on a team trip to Dubai. You even gave me my nickname in football, calling me ‘Ninja’ from the moment we met. Your stories, banter, leadership, positivity, and genuine nature lit up every room. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have known you, trained with you, and played alongside someone I admired since childhood. We have lost a special person today who will be truly missed. Sleep well, King Kev.”