Born to Marianela González and José Eulises Mina, Yerry’s journey from a small Colombian village to the heart of the football world is nothing short of inspiring. This article explores the captivating story of Yerry; it is a tale of aspiration, resilience, and the joy of football.
Alongside his wife Geraldine Molina and their child, Yerry’s life off the pitch is as enriching as his on-field exploits. This biography paints a picture of a man whose towering presence belies a warm, engaging personality and a deep commitment to his roots.
To whet your quest to read autobiographies especially on the engaging nature of Yerry Mina’s story, behold his early life to rise gallery, which summarizes his history.
Yerry Mina’s Journey: From Rural Roots to Football Fame
Yes, everyone knows he attained global fame at the 2018 World Cup, scoring three goals for Colombia – all headers.
Despite this defensive accolade, we notice a gap in his story. We’ve found that not many football fans have read a detailed version of Yerry Mina’s Biography.
We’ve prepared it to satisfy your research interest in Columbian footballers and also because of our love of the game. Now, without further ado, let’s begin.
Yerry Mina Childhood Story:
Yerry Mina has not changed since his childhood. Do you agree with me?
For Biography starters, he bears the nickname – The Gold Mine. Yerry Fernando Mina González (his full name) was born on the 23rd day of September 1994 to his mother, Marianela González, and father, José Eulises Mina, in the town of Guachené, Southwest Columbia.
Upon his birth, his parents agreed to a unique way of naming their first child and son. Are you aware?… The origin of Yerry Mina’s name comes from the famous cartoon series ‘Tom and Jerry’.
In fact, Marianela (his Mum) chose the name ‘Yerry’ because of her love for Jerry – in that cartoon series. She named him Yerry by taking the ‘J’ out of her favourite cartoon character – Jerry (the Mouse).
Meet Yerry Mina’s parents – José Eulises Mina and Marianela González.
His Dad and Mum had him when they were relatively young. By starting their family so early, Jose and Marianela will get all the energy as grandparents – in chasing their grandchildren around.
Growing-Up Years:
Yerry Mina is the first son and child out of two children born of the union between José Eulises Mina and Marianela González.
He spent his early years alongside his half-brother, Cristian Andrés, and a younger brother, Juan José.
Mina, like all firstborns of families, was a celebrated child. Our research team tagged this photo as one of the best moments of his unforgettable childhood.
Little Yerry was celebrating his first birthday in this photograph.
Since his early years, members of his household and his neighbours viewed Yerry as a humble boy with a natural flair for respecting people.
He was the type who never complained about what Marianela and José (his parents) couldn’t afford him.
As the firstborn, Yerry learned to shoulder the responsibility of setting an example at home. He does that by looking after Juan José and Cristian Andrés, his kid brothers.
Also, as a child, the future star has been a big Dog admirer. His love for pets followed him to adulthood. Here is the footballer with his Dog named Madonna.
Even while married to Geraldine Molina, Yerry remains a Dog lover.
Yerry Mina Family Background:
Yerry Mina hails from a family deeply rooted in sports, particularly in goalkeeping. His father, José Eulises Mina, was a goalkeeper himself, which heavily influenced Yerry’s early aspirations in the sport.
In fact, even Mina’s uncle was a professional goalkeeper. No wonder our boy found his occupation early.
A point to note, the Defender also comes from a poor family. José Eulises Mina’s goalkeeping job yielded little money for his household.
Are you aware?… Yerry Mina hung out of the back of lorries in order to transport to school as a kid. He also earned £1.50 a day selling fruit, a development that made him vow to work hard and make it in life.
Yerry Mina Family Origin:
First thing first, the Columbian does not come from one of his country’s biggest cities – Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, etc. The truth is, Mina’s family roots say a lot about his humble beginnings.
Yerry Mina’s Origin is Guachené, located Southwest of Columbia.
In Guachené, a small market town of approximately 20,000 people, Yerry Mina is revered as a hero among many. This humble town, where he grew up in poverty, is predominantly Afro-descendant, with Yerry himself proudly representing this community.
Yerry Mina Education and Career Buildup:
Since childhood, people have seen the Gold Mine as very diligent, as seen in the schools he attended. Coming from a poor family, Mina paid most of his school fees from the proceeds of hawking fruits.
Yerry Mina’s parents never accepted the idea of a total focus on football during his pre-teenage years.
As a precaution in case football fails, Marianela and José urged Yerry to study up to his academic BAC (secondary education level).
Yerry Mina Education: He possessed both Intelligence and ambition in his schooling days.
As expected, the humble boy made his Daddy and Mummy proud before putting his full attention to sports.
Yerry got the best education in his hometown of Guachené. Subsequently, when the time got right, he accepted his calling (soccer) – as a late bloomer.
Yerry Mina Biography – Football Story:
Starting off his youth career, Yerry’s genes began playing the role of towering his body’s height, size, and appearance.
Because of his tall nature, our boy fancied becoming a goalkeeper. In response, his father and uncle disapproved. Speaking about the intent, Mina once said;
MY DAD ADVISED ME TO DROP THE GOALKEEPING THING. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE GOALKEEPER POSITION DEMANDS LOTS OF SACRIFICE. HE AND UNCLE WAS NOT READY TO TAKE THAT RISK ON ME. MY DAD SAID HE DOESN’T WANT TO SEE ME SUFFER LIKE HE DID.
Following his father’s and uncle’s footsteps, the youngster began life as a defender. Yerry never had the experience of a boyhood career, which many footballers had between the ages of 5 to 10.
Early Life with Career Football:
Back in the days, he struggled financially in the quest to have himself transported to training. In the quest to reduce the burden on his parents, Mina formed the habit of jumping onto lorries that stopped at red lights.
Thanks to hard work and consistency, he became a graduate of Deportivo Pasto at 18. In no time, Nature began blessing the towering centre back with a great posture, one which made him look like a giant.
At 18, Mina was already a Giant. The height difference between Mina and his teammate is out of this world.
Yerry played with confidence, displaying unrivalled football prowess more than anyone else on his team. Thanks to his bravery, a top-tier Columbian team – Independiente Santa Fe – secured his services in 2013.
Mina immediately became an instant hit with his new club. Becoming a regular starter for the Cardinals, he helped them win two major cups – the Copa Sudamericana and Superliga Colombiana – all in 2015.
It was a performance like this that brought Mina fame in his early career years.
Yerry Mina Bio – The Road to Fame Story:
On May 1st, 2016, Yerry Mina’s life took a significant turn as he was officially announced as a new player for Palmeiras, the legendary São Paulo club that boasts icons such as Roberto Carlos, Gabriel Jesus, and Rivaldo.
For the first time, he left his family members to live in another land, Brazil. Owing to his brilliance with Palmeiras, the 6 foot 5 inches defender got called to the Columbian national team. Although limited by injuries, Mina’s performance never crumbled.
After recovering from injury and reclaiming his starting position, the defensive powerhouse delivered a string of outstanding performances. As a result, Mina played a pivotal role in securing his team’s victory in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
See how intimidating the defender was. No wonder he became successful.
The 2018 World Cup Story:
Thanks to a series of impressive performances, Yerry saw his country listing him as a key member of their squad.
In May 2018, the joy of his family knew no bounds as he got named among Colombia’s 23-man squad for the Russia 2018 World Cup.
The towering centre-back played a major role in the global campaign. In that memorable tournament, Yerry earned the record for most goals (three) by a defender in a single World Cup.
As a matter of fact, Mina’s eye for goal and defensive attributes earned him praise by plaudits on the world’s biggest stage. One of Yerry’s best moments was a brilliant last-minute header that once took Gareth Southgate’s England to extra time.
Following his country’s penalty shootout exit at the hands of Jordan Pickford, FC Barca recognised an opportunity to cash in on the giant whose market value went high.
The Spanish giant triggered his transfer and placed a €100m release clause on his name.
Yerry Mina Biography – The Success Story:
Just after the 2018 World Cup, the new national hero opened a new chapter in his life. Arriving at a big club like Barca was indeed the highest expectation for Yerry. It was also a big taste of pride for his immediate family and relatives.
Did you know?… the 6 foot 5 powerhouse was part of Andres Iniesta’s last season with the Blaugrana side. Yerry Mina’s contribution helped Barca, that season, to clinch the La Liga and Copa del Rey titles.
Yerry Mina Barcelona Story.
Not agreeing to settle as a third option behind Clément Lenglet and Gerard Piqué, Yerry began counting his days with the Spanish giant. Considering his reputation, all he wanted was to be a first choice.
Among the top managers, Jose Mourinho became keen to sign him. However, it was the frustration of not getting Mina that led to a breakdown of trust between United’s board and the manager, which resulted in his sack.
On 11 January 2018, Barcelona agreed with Everton for the transfer of Yerry Mina. Are you aware?… Mina joined Everton because of his love for the Angry Birds.
If you can recall, Angry Birds once had a sleeve sponsorship deal with Everton. Thankfully, a new life at the Merseyside saw the powerhouse re-uniting with former teammates, the likes of Lucas Digne and Portuguese Andre Gomes.
Since Yerry Mina’s 2018 World Cup glory days, we know the archetypal Columbian as someone who keeps paying his dues in the game. Yes, Everton fans can testify that their 6ft 5in colossus owns the heart of their defence.
Truly, Yerry Mina’s bullet heading, strength, and standing tackles are second to none. Without a doubt, his 2018 World Cup success story will forever live in his heart. The rest, as we says in his Bio, is history.
About Geraldine Molina, Yerry Mina’s Wife:
The defender’s achievement is made possible by the support of his female partner. Geraldine Molina has stood by her man through thick and thin.
Indeed, by just taking a glimpse of Yerry and his stunning brunette, you can tell they very compatible.
Yerry Mina’s wife means the entire world to him.
Who is Geraldine Molina?
First thing first, she was born on the 3rd day of May 1995. This implies a year younger than her husband.
According to several blogs, the Columbian WAG and her family hail from Guachené, which is the same hometown as her spouse.
Yerry Mina has known Geraldine since their teenage years. Both met at a time when he achieved nothing in football.
Out of love and trust, they began loving each other – since Yerry’s time with Deportivo Pasto.
For all the years in her relationship, Geraldine has remained selfless. She goes anywhere football takes her spouse to.
The Everton WAG is the type that provides her husband with emotional support, even if it means putting her life on hold.
It is not just her hips, shape, or beauty, but the heart of gold that makes Geraldine Molina so beautiful.
Yerry Mina regularly posts loved-up pictures of himself and his brunette. Once upon a time, he made a video of when he popped the ultimate question to Geraldine Molina.
Yerry Mina and his wife have remained one of the most established couples among his colleagues in the Columbian squad. As I write his Bio, both couples have welcomed their first child, a daughter. For the towering defender, Geraldine and Marianela (his Mum) remain the closest to his heart.
Meet the two most important people in his life.
Personal Life away from Soccer:
Despite his towering height and significant earnings, Yerry Mina maintains a remarkably humble demeanor. Beyond football, he leads a modest life in his home in England with his partner, Geraldine.
About his personality, the Columbian naturally wins the affection of people, especially children, anywhere he goes. Among children, Everton Kids (in particular) enjoy having Yerry entertain them with his dance moves.
Yerry Mina Lifestyle:
Thanks to his game, the Columbian has forged his own part toward Financial freedom. Despite his huge wages, Mina possesses a thrifty mindset.
He never showcases his wealth to fans. Put simply, the defender remains an antidote to an exotic lifestyle.
Yerry Mina Cars:
Although he has them a lot, but Mina prefers to keep his cars and other assets private. He only makes it public; his sponsorship deals with Auto manufacturing companies.
As a piece of evidence, here is the Columbian posing with two sets of cars; a BMW and a Fiat Argo – purely for business and marketing purposes.
Yerry Mina Cars cannot be far from these brands.
Yerry Mina Family Life:
For the Guachené native, the love for his household is one of his greatest blessings. Truly, no amount of football money can take the place of time Yerry spends with his nuclear family. In this section, we will tell you more about his parents, brother, and relatives.
This is Yerry Mina’s immediate family members. Can you spot a resemblance somewhere?
About Yerry Mina’s Father:
José Eulises Mina had his firstborn child when he was relatively young (in his early 20s).
Becoming a parent at that early age placed a great deal of responsibility on his young shoulders. For this reason and others, José Eulises’ family struggled.
Yerry Mina’s Father got brief opportunities as a goalkeeper. Because of that, it forced him to abandon his football dreams. Thankfully, what became a tough period for his family later turned into a blessing.
Yerry Mina has enjoyed a good relationship with his Dad since childhood.
The proud father, José Eulises, is deeply involved in managing his son’s ventures, including overseeing the Yerry Mina Foundation in their hometown of Guachené. His dedication underscores a strong family commitment to supporting both Yerry’s career and their community. José Eulises’ family made history by having Barcelona hire the first Columbian (his son).
About Yerry Mina’s Mother:
The footballer shared the closest relationship with the first woman of his life.
Since his birth, Marianela’s maternal love for Yerry has been the most powerful, one that has positively influenced her son’s development.
Marianela’s greatest treasure is her first son. Both Yerry and his Mum have shared a close bond since his childhood.
A feeling of motherly fulfillment is the first thing that’ll strike you when you meet Marianela González. Yerry has repeatedly sacrificed himself so he could continually put simply on her face.
Mina vowed from a young age that he would make Marianela, his mum, smile.
Asides from building her a house, Yerry has fulfilled his responsibility of making her part of his personal budget.
Back then, he gave his mum (for the family) – 4,000 of his 6,000 wages and used the rest to buy food after training.
Marianela draws her inner strength from her son – something that makes her look more relaxed these days. She even looks younger and more beautiful as the year goes by.
This is what having a successful footballer as a son can cause. Marianela is enjoying the best of life.
About Yerry Mina’s Brother:
Juan José is the name. Again, Yerry remains his greatest idol. Now grown up, Juan also lives a footballing life.
At the time of creating Yerry Mina’s Bio, his younger brother features as a forward and winger for the Colombian Under 15 team.
At 14 years old, Juan José exhibits many of the same traits as his older brother, Yerry. He shares Yerry’s hairstyle, mimics his walk, talks like him, and even dances to celebrate goals in the same way Yerry Mina does.
As of 2021, Juan José features for Deportivo Cali’s youth.
For Juan José, having a big brother this successful brings the greatest feeling of pride.
About Yerry Mina’s Relatives:
We start with his Uncle named Jair Mina. Without this man, Yerry would never have gotten a smooth start in his profession. His Father’s brother is a super relative, a man responsible for taking him for his first trial with Deportivo Pasto.
Yerry Mina takes a photo with his Uncle, Jair Mina.
The former goalkeeper is also very close to Yerry’s Dad. As I write, he serves as an agent to Mina. Jair Mina is the brain behind the beautiful negotiations – one which has earned Mina his fat wages.
Untold Facts:
In this section, we’ll tell you some truths about the 6-foot-5 Defensive giant. Without further ado, let’s begin.
Everton Salary Breakdown:
Did you know?… the average person in England who earns 30,000 pounds per year would need four years to make Yerry Mina’s weekly salary with Everton.
Yerry Mina Net Worth:
Since 2013, when he began his soccer profession, Yerry has made quite a fortune under Jair and the Wasserman agency. With a 2021 salary of £6.3m, including sponsorship deals, we value Yerry Mina’s 2021 net worth at £20m.
Yerry Mina’s Workout:
The 6 foot 5 beast does drills that suites his body type every day of the week. Yerry exercises even on days when he has no training.
Yerry Mina’s Religion:
Like Ricardo Kaka, the Guachené native is a devout Christian. Yerry is an active member of neo-Pentecostal’s CGMJCI.
This acronym stands for Church of God Ministry of Jesus Christ International. As expected by his religion, Mina publicly shows his devotion to Christ, even on the pitch.
We explain Yerry Mina’s Religion in this photo.
Churches often invite the Big defender as a guest speaker to their events. There Mina talks about his life, faith, and commitment to God.
The Barefoot Barcelona Presentation:
Yerry is quite a traditional man. As tradition expects, he entrenches himself in his family’s aged-long beliefs and practices.
During his Barcelona presentation, the World Cup star adhered to the cultural principles of his origin.
Yes, being the first Columbian to get hired by Barcelona is a great honour. In his quest to seek Good luck in Europe, Mina had to take off his socks and boots before entering Camp Nou turf.
Many Columbian footballers practice this age-long traditional practice. For example, the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Duvan Zapata, etc.
Poor Game Ratings:
Yerry Mina’s profile (FIFA) as of 2021 doesn’t tally with what he gives on the pitch. A score of 79 and 81 potential seems unfair for a man labelled as the highest-scoring defender in the World cup match. Not to forget, he had a good 2020 with Everton.
At 25, Mina possesses the needed defensive attributes of the modern game.
EndNote:
Yerry Mina’s humility is rare, both in his personal life and occupation. He is someone who has gotten the admiration of fans. Since child, Mina has always been diligent with everything – from family, religion, education, and career.
It behoves us to appreciate his parents (Marianela González and José Eulises Mina) for instilling in him, great moral values which have made Yerry become great. More so, his Uncle (Jair Mina) helped build his footballing foundation.
The Biography of Yerry Mina teaches us one thing. That if you are born in a poor family, it is not your fault.
However, if you refuse to work hard consistently and remain poor, then the fault is yours. Yerry Mina’s records with Everton prove this consistency.
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for staying with us on the Life story of one of Los Cafeteros’ most precious jewels.
We always strive for accuracy and fairness in the delivery of Columbian football stories. Have you read the Life Histories of Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Duran? From a non-Columbian standpoint, Ben Godfrey‘s life history should interest you. Kindly contact us if you spot something that doesn’t look nice in our Bio on Mina.
Again, we will be glad if you let us know what you think about the defender in the comment section.
