Ivory Coast rising star Yan Diomande has made it clear that he is determined to carve out his own legacy rather than live in the shadow of established stars such as Michael Olise and Gervinho.
The RB Leipzig winger has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in European football after a remarkable breakthrough season in the Bundesliga, where he succeeded Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise as the league’s Rookie of the Year.
With both players sharing similar attacking qualities and West African roots, comparisons have naturally followed.
However, Diomande insists his focus remains firmly on developing his own game as he prepares for his first FIFA World Cup.
Speaking ahead of Ivory Coast’s pre-World Cup friendly against France, the youngster stressed that while he admires Olise, he is not trying to replicate the Bayern star’s career.
“I’m not [trying to learn from Olise],” Diomande began. “I have a big respect for him, but I’m not looking at him.
“I’m looking at him as a player, I want to do something like him, but I’m watching him on TV when Bayern are playing… like, I watch Harry Kane, or Luis Diaz, because they’re top players.
“So I’m learning something from them, but it’s not feeling like I’m going only to my TV to watch him play.”
Diomande enjoyed a sensational campaign with RB Leipzig, contributing to 20 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances as the club secured a third-place finish.
His performances earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award, making him only the fourth African player to receive the honour after Amine Harit, Silas and Victor Boniface.
Despite his rapid rise, the 19-year-old remains grounded and focused on continuous improvement rather than individual accolades.
“I have another dream every day, it depends on the mood,” he continued. “Maybe tomorrow I want [to win the] Ballon d’Or, it depends, but right now I’m just trying to be focused on myself, trying to score more goals, do a good World Cup.
“I’m thinking about the group first, because I know if we perform as a group, it’s going to be easy for me, but I’m not thinking about myself only. It’s all about the team.”
Born in Abidjan before moving to the United States at a young age, Diomande’s journey to the top has been remarkable.
After developing at Florida-based DME Academy and later joining Leganes, he quickly accelerated his rise with a move to Germany and a stellar debut season at Leipzig.
The winger credits his faith and mindset as key factors behind his success.
“In Africa, we believe in God a lot and I do as well, so [the advice I follow is] work hard, believe in yourself, don’t listen to people, and God is going to do the rest.
“[I must] stay focused and listen to myself. Believe in myself and work hard.”
As Ivory Coast prepares for its first World Cup appearance since 2014, Diomande is expected to play a major role for the Elephants.
Although comparisons have also been drawn with former Ivory Coast winger Gervinho, the teenager remains reluctant to position himself as anyone’s successor.
Reflecting on the country’s football icons, he acknowledged their influence while maintaining his desire to build his own identity.
“I didn’t really watch them play, I think I watched a couple of games, but I didn’t really watch them,” Diomande concluded, “but Gervinho, Didier Drogba, I watched them, and I hear about them.
“I didn’t watch a lot [of Gervinho], but I think he was very fast, and a similar kind of [player to me].”
The upcoming friendly against France represents Ivory Coast’s final test before the World Cup begins.
Diomande says excitement is building within the squad as the Elephants prepare to return to football’s biggest stage.
“I’ve been looking forward to participating in the World Cup, the mood is good, and everyone is excited to start the competition,” Diomande added.
“We’re just waiting for the day, but we’re in a good mood and everyone is ready.”
Ivory Coast begin their World Cup campaign against Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14 before facing Germany in Toronto six days later.
Their Group E journey concludes against Curacao on June 25 as they seek to make history and progress beyond the group stage.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
