Yan Diomande, a Leipzig (Germany) player who plays for the Ivory Coast team in the 2026 World Cup, published this Wednesday (17) a text in honor of his sister Roxane, who died at the age of 15, on the website The Players’ Tribune.
In the story, he talks about his poor childhood in Abidjan, the capital of the African country, where he lived in a house with 24 other people and even stole potatoes to satisfy his hunger.
As a child, Diomande’s nickname was “Roberto Carlos”, because of the strength of his shot. This irritated him because his idol, in fact, was the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Ivorian begins the text talking about a fake Manchester United shirt he received as a child. With a marker, he wrote “Ronaldo 7” on the back.
His sister Roxane died after having her drink poisoned at a party. “You were 15 years old. I never got any answers. Everything I do on a football field is for you,” Diomande wrote.
She was the player’s biggest supporter, even in the most difficult moments, like when he, then a student in the USA, was rejected even by B teams in the MLS (Major League Soccer, North American football league) and had to return to Africa.
“You were the only one who never stopped believing. A few weeks later, I signed with Leganés and we cried different tears.”
Roxane saw in Diomande the potential to surpass the biggest stars in the world, including Cristiano Ronaldo. Mbappe? “Yes, he’s good. But my brother is better”, he said.
In the strongest moment of the story, the Ivorian says that he used to have emotions, but that today he feels nothing. “It’s like I’m not even human. Since you died, I’m just empty.”
The countryside, according to him, is the only place where he still feels at home.
“I just wish you were still here so I could tell you… We did it. We’re going to the World Cup tomorrow. Really. Your brother is going to play for Côte d’Ivoire, like Drogba, like Yaya, like Gervinho.”
For Diomande, the 2026 World Cup is his chance to show the whole world what Roxane saw in him. “Every time I score a goal, I’m going to make sure everyone knows your name. I’m going to make sure they don’t forget you.”
Before he even had real football boots, his sister said he would be the best in the world.
“I’ll prove you right, or I’ll die trying.”
