«I'm doing what I love» - An interview with Yan Diomande The next big thing in football

Yan Diomande is one of the most promising young footballers in the world. Aged 19, he is from the Ivory Coast and had never played professional football before March 2025. Not only that, but he left his hometown of Abidjan in the Ivory Coast to move to the United States to play college football, and his path is unparalleled. Fast forward 12 months, and he will be representing his national team at the 2026 World Cup, thanks to a stunning season in the Bundesliga, during which he scored 12 goals and provided nine assists playing for RB Leipzig. "I'm proud of everything. And I think it's because of God, because I'm doing what I love", tell us Diomande while looking back at these rollercoaster months.

The next step is the 2026 World Cup, where he will be representing the Ivory Coast — his country of birth — in the United States, the nation in which he developed as a footballer. "We want to make history. And personally, I'm proud of myself. I think it's the dream of every player just to play in the World Cup. It's a moment to enjoy and give everything for my country". He repeats the word 'pride' the most, and it's easy to understand why: his journey has been so hectic that, despite his love of football, he has rarely had the chance to watch a whole World Cup due to his constant relocations. This does not mean that he did not have a footballing idol while growing up: "Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of my football heroes. I have a picture of me wearing one of my shirts with his name on the back because I didn’t have the money to buy a jersey. Then in my country obviously Yaya Touré and Didier Drogba".

At the 2026 World Cup Diomande will not only represent Ivory Coast but also New Balance wearing a pair of Furon, one of the brand’s signature boots which is crafted for speed: "I'm happy to have joined the family. The boots are good and very comfortable. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens over the next two or three years. I like moving around a lot. The boot is soft too. I like running, moving and dribbling. Sometimes, when boots are too heavy, it's difficult to perform skills and movements. I like to move quickly on the pitch".