Jonathan Tah moved by Yan Diomande’s tribute to late sister

RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande has opened up about the death of his younger sister Roxane, who passed away at just 15, in a deeply emotional letter for “The Player’s Tribune”.

“Now I don’t feel anything anymore. It’s as if I’m not even human. Since you died, I just feel emptiness,” wrote the Ivorian international, whose words also resonated within the German national team camp.

Germany defender Jonathan Tah said Diomande’s courage in sharing such a personal tragedy touched him ahead of their World Cup clash with Ivory Coast in Toronto. “That was very moving. I always think it’s great to hear the background stories of the people behind the scenes,” Tah said.

He stressed how important it is for players to feel supported when they speak about mental struggles within a team environment. Tah believes this backing “helps to deal with such situations” and praised Diomande for “showing his human side, so people don’t always just see the footballer”.

On the pitch, Tah also highlighted the 19-year-old’s quality, calling him “an outstanding player with tremendous talent and potential” who has already delivered a “top season” and will be “a very tough opponent”.