Martasia Griffin is currently managing the rapidly growing career of her three-year-old son, Nevada, a young soccer player who has captured national attention. Griffin stated in an interview with CBS Mornings that she handles the majority of his professional communications, including emails and business calls. While she noted that she does not want to push him into the business side of the sport too aggressively, she acknowledged that the high cost of soccer and the public's affection for her son have led to numerous deals.
The family’s profile surged last month after organizers at a youth soccer match called 911, with body camera footage from the incident spreading widely online. Griffin explained that the youth soccer director called police because he wanted to remove Nevada from the game due to his superior skill level. In the 911 audio, the director described the parents as disruptive, while the video showed him stating that Nevada was significantly more advanced than his peers and was pushing other children while scoring goals.
The league director claimed he had previously instructed the kids not to push during play and referenced an earlier incident where he had substituted players, including Nevada. Griffin recalled that moment, explaining that after Nevada scored a quick goal, the game was stopped and the director and coaches gathered in a circle without the parents present. When she approached the group to ask if the discussion concerned her son, she felt she should be included in the conversation. Griffin insisted that she and Nevada’s father, Don, were not being disruptive, but were simply trying to discuss solutions with the director.
Griffin believes the underlying motivation for the director, who is Black, was jealousy rather than race. She stated that she would not use race as an explanation for the incident and that she was never going to stop Nevada from playing at his level. She added that she refused to dim his light. The family often arrived late to games intentionally to give other children a better chance to play, noting that the league frequently removed Nevada so others could have opportunities.
The media coverage has brought significant business interest, with Griffin currently managing a busy schedule. She revealed that the family has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with Roc Nation, the management company founded by Jay-Z. Additionally, the group is planning to send Nevada on a training trip to Spain next month. Following the viral incident, former U.S. men’s national team striker Eddie Johnson invited Nevada to train at his EJE7 Soccer Academy in Orlando on a full scholarship.
Johnson expressed his awe at Nevada’s abilities, comparing the young player to soccer legends such as Pelé, Neymar, and Ronaldinho. He described Nevada as a former great player reincarnated and noted that the level of control and coordination displayed at such a young age is rare. Johnson emphasized that Nevada should not be able to dribble and run with the ball with such precision at his age.
Despite the controversy, Griffin said the family does not intend to take legal action against the league. Instead, they wish to move forward and focus on Nevada’s developing career. Griffin emphasized that her son is a soccer player who is more than a child who had police called on him. She expressed high hopes for his future, stating that he will become the youngest professional soccer player and break the world record.
