“I don't think I even shed a tear the day they told me you'd passed away. I was just in shock. It was a few weeks after my debut for Leganés. Who makes their debut at 18 against Real Madrid? It was too much madness. It was a dream… and then it turned into a nightmare. Someone kept calling me from home. I was annoyed. I didn't understand why they kept calling me. I answered, and they didn't even soften it. You know how it is back home. No emotion. Just… "Your sister is gone." "What?" "She died." "What are you talking about?" "Someone put something in her drink at a party, and she never woke up. She's gone." You were 15 years old. I never got any answers. I don't know if I want to know why. Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it's just something that happens in our country. Maybe I could have protected you. I don't know. I try to trust in God's plan. It's all I can do. I don't try to forget, because I know I won't forget. All I can do is use the pain to work harder, and to do everything we dreamed of. I wrote this because I can't talk about it. I wrote this because I want you to know that I'll make sure you stay alive. I'll make sure everyone knows your name. The whole world. Everything I do on a soccer field is for you. So much has happened since the last time I saw you… You wouldn't even believe it. I don't know if I believe it. You know what's crazy? After my debut against Madrid, I actually swapped shirts with Mbappé. Remember when we'd watch him on TV, and you'd say: "Mbappé? Yeah, he's good. But my brother is better." I was wrong about one thing. I don't want to be rich. I see what it does to people, even to family. When I was at Leganés, everything I earned, I sent home. It got to the point where I didn't even want the money anymore. It was just a burden. They never stopped asking. I think they thought I was already a millionaire. I didn't even have an apartment. I lived at the training center, in a room without a TV. Just soccer and sleep, soccer and sleep. I didn't want a big house. I didn't want cars. I just wanted to put everything into soccer. Everything to show the world that my sister was right… Ha… you'll find this funny. When I moved to play for RB Leipzig, I was always late. Well, not late. But I'd arrive on time, which in Germany means you're very late. So you already know what I did after that. I started arriving 90 minutes early for everything. I got there so early all the time that the guys started calling me "The German." I always have to overdo everything. I have no balance. You always said that. The field is the only place where I still feel at home. It's the place where I feel calm, and where I can talk to you. I just wish you were still here so I could tell you… We made it. Everything you said came true. We're heading to the World Cup tomorrow. For real. Your brother is going to play for Ivory Coast, like Drogba, like Yaya, like Gervinho. I don't even see it as a game. I see it as a stage. This is my chance to show the whole world what you saw in me. Every time I score, I'll make sure everyone knows your name. I'll make sure they don't forget you. You always said I could be better than Cristiano. If I see him there, I'll say hello for you. I'll do what you predicted, I swear. Even before I had real cleats, you'd tell everyone: "My brother is going to be the best in the world." I'll prove you were right, or I'll die trying. Your brother, Yan.”