Fernando Mendoza has added another piece of hardware to his trophy case. The 22-year-old won the Men’s College Athlete of the Year at the 2026 ESPY Awards. He was nominated alongside Cameron Boozer, Donovan Phillip, and Mitchell Mesenbrink.
Mendoza showed up to the event with his mom and dad, Elsa Mendoza and Dr. Fernando Mendoza Sr. Some fans noticed that Elsa Mendoza was in a wheelchair, being accompanied by her son.
Elsa Mendoza has been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for nearly two decades, which has confined her to a wheelchair. Despite her own challenges, Elsa has been the biggest inspiration for Fernando Mendoza on his football journey.
The star quarterback has talked about the positive impact and influence his mother has had on his career. When he won the Heisman Trophy last year, Mendoza dedicated the award to Elsa during his acceptance speech.
“You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my life. You’re my why. You’ve always been my biggest supporter. Your sacrifices, courage, love, my first playbook, my playbook I’m going to carry through my side my entire life,” Mendoza said.
Fernando Mendoza credited Elsa for teaching him how to be tough, be quiet yet strong, and always have hope by his side. When he took the stage at the ESPYs, Mendoza thanked everyone who had played a part in his journey, including his family.
“I want to give a huge thanks to my family, my coaches, my beloved Hoosier Nation, and most importantly, out of all of them, my beloved teammates. Love you guys, appreciate everything you guys have done for me,” he said.
While he was delivering his acceptance speech, the camera panned to his mother in the audience, who had the biggest smile on her face.
Fernando Mendoza’s Mom’s Condition Explained
Fernando Mendoza’s mother suffers from MS, which is an autoimmune disease. The disease affects the central nervous system and has confined her to a wheelchair.
MS attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers. People with MS are always at risk of permanently damaging their nerve fibers. This is caused by a disruption of communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
According to a 2023 report by the WHO, over 1.8 million people worldwide suffer from MS, and it can affect people of all ages, though it’s more common in young adults and females.
A different report published by the National Institutes of Health stated that the number has increased to over 2.8 million people worldwide. The NIH report noted that the global prevalence of MS has risen since 2013. Unfortunately, no cure has been developed for MS yet.
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