When Yan Diomande lines up on the wing against Germany on Saturday, the 19-year-old Ivory Coast sensation will have one thing on his mind – making his little sister Roxanne proud. She died a year ago, aged 15, after her drink was spiked.
"Everything I do on a football pitch, it's for you," Diomande wrote in a letter published by The Players' Tribune this week, laying bare the tragedy that drives him. The RB Leipzig winger, who scored 12 goals in his debut Bundesliga season, described how Roxanne's belief in his ability has underpinned his career. "I don't even look at it like a game," he wrote. "I look at it like a stage. This is my chance to show the whole world what you saw in me. Every time I score, I'll make sure everybody knows your name."
“Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande plays for sister Roxanne, who died aged 15 after her drink was spiked, as they face Germany.”
Diomande, who moved to Leipzig from Spanish side Leganes, admitted the loss has left him numb. "Now, I don't feel anything. It's like I'm not even human. Since you died, I'm just blank," he wrote. "All I can do is use the pain to work harder, and to do everything we dreamed about."
His focus now is on the World Cup, where Ivory Coast face Germany in a Group E match on Saturday at 21:00 BST. The Ivorians opened their campaign with a win over Ecuador, putting them in a strong position to progress – something they have never done in three previous World Cup appearances (2006, 2010 and 2014), despite boasting legends like Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba. Diomande believes this squad has a different edge. "I think we have more desire," he said. "There isn't a lot of expectation on us, so we have nothing to lose and we'll give it everything."
Off the pitch, Diomande's performances have not gone unnoticed. BBC Sport understands that Liverpool have told RB Leipzig they are willing to pay £86m for the teenager, who has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield. But for now, his thoughts are with Roxanne. "We're here to represent millions of people and play for our loved ones and our families," he said. "It makes us want to go out there and make an impact."