Yan Diomande has a message for the world, and it starts with his sister’s name.
The 19-year-old Ivory Coast and RB Leipzig winger published a letter through The Players’ Tribune on Wednesday that’s hard to read without stopping a couple times. It’s addressed to his sister Roxane, who died at 15 after an incident where her drink was allegedly spiked. The timing of the loss makes it even worse: it happened right around when Diomande made his La Liga debut for Leganes last year.
“I never got any answers,” Diomande wrote. “I don’t know if I want to know why. Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it’s just something that happens in our country. Maybe I could have protected you. I don’t know.”
It’s raw. It’s not polished for public consumption. But Diomande wanted people to understand what’s driving him as he heads to North America for his first World Cup with the Elephants.
The sister who believed first
Growing up in Abidjan, Diomande had the same dream a million kids have: be like Cristiano Ronaldo. But Roxane was the one who made it feel possible when everything else told him no.
He writes about getting rejected over and over during trials across Europe. Visas expiring. Getting sent back to Africa. Crying together because the dream felt like it was dying.
“You were the one who never stopped believing,” he wrote. “A few weeks later, I signed for Leganes and we cried different tears.”
Those early rejections shaped him. Most kids would have folded. Diomande kept going because his sister wouldn’t let him quit.
World Cup stage, personal promise
Diomande wrote the letter right before flying out for the World Cup. And he made a vow that’s going to stick with you.
“This is my chance to show the whole world what you saw in me,” he wrote. “Every time I score, I’ll make sure everybody knows your name. I’ll make sure they don’t forget you.”
He goes further. Remember that Ronaldo dream? Roxane told everyone her brother would be the best in the world. Diomande is holding onto that.
“You always said that I could be better than Cristiano. If I see him there, I’ll tell him hello for you. I’m going to do what you predicted, I swear. Before I even had real boots, you were telling everybody, ‘My brother is going to be the greatest in the world.’ I will prove that you were right, or I will die trying.”
He’s already off to a decent start. Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0 in their Group E opener. They sit second behind Germany on goal difference heading into Saturday’s matchup with Germany in Toronto. Diomande looked sharp in that first game, and now you know exactly who he’s playing for.
He’s young. The hype around him has been building for a while — Liverpool has been mentioned as a possible next move. But none of that matters as much as what he put into that letter.
“Everything I do on a football pitch, it’s for you.”
Leave a Comment