Yan Diomande is doing everything he can to keep his sister Roxane’s memory alive: “The pitch is the only place that I feel at home anymore. It’s the place where I feel calm, and I can speak to you. I just wish you were still here so I could tell you….. We did it." playerstribu.ne/Diomande

Last year, Courtney Williams shared her story of coming out to her parents. ❤️ playerstribu.ne/CourtneyWilliams

Bruno Fernandes in 2020: "Kids would be having arguments about who was the best, and of course it was no different with me and my brother. Who is gonna win the Ballon d’Or this year? Who scores better goals? Who is the GOAT? I was always Team Cristiano." playerstribu.ne/BrunoFernandes

“We needed this one. I never said that out loud, but I know other guys felt that way.” You thought Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal was going to win a Cup and not do a Players’ Tribune? This is 17 years in the making. https://playerstribu.ne/Staal

Growing up, Martin Ødegaard took football very seriously. It all paid off. playerstribu.ne/Odegaard

Jamal Musiala’s return to Germany wasn’t the easiest, but it was all worth it: “I loved England. I felt part English, if I’m honest. It’s never an easy decision to uproot your life like that, but it really felt like fate. Something about Bayern just felt natural.” playerstribu.ne/Musiala

When Wyatt Spalding was 12, he was told that his Cerebral Palsy made sports impossible. He kept dribbling. He kept dreaming. He became a Special Olympics Hall of Famer. This story is bigger than basketball. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/wyatt-spalding-special-olympics

Growing up in Edmonton, Alphonso Davies tried all the sports, but his calling was always on the pitch. playerstribu.ne/Davies

In 2017, Marcus Rashford reflected on making his debut for the England national team: “It’s important that we bring pride back to our country. We know that’s what supporters have been waiting for as well.” playerstribu.ne/Rashford

“I want to talk about getting knocked down. Not just in basketball, but in life.” University of Houston PG Kingston Flemings pens a letter to NBA GMs ahead of tonight’s draft. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/kingston-flemings-nba-draft-basketball-houston-cougars

Kalidou Koulibaly: “When I called my father on FaceTime and told him that I was going to represent Senegal, I could see the light in his eyes.... Me representing my country is not just about a football match. It’s about my blood, and my history, and the dreams of my parents.” playerstribu.ne/Kalidou

Romelu Lukaku in 2018: “I knew we were struggling. But when she was mixing in water with the milk, I realized it was over, you know what I mean? This was our life. I didn’t say a word. I didn’t want her to stress.” playerstribu.ne/Lukaku

Yan Diomande penned a touching tribute to his sister, Roxane: “Now, I don’t feel anything. It’s like I’m not even human. Since you died, I’m just blank.” playerstribu.ne/Diomande

We gave NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani our camcorder at the New York Knicks parade…. You'll just have to see the footage to believe it. 📹 (P.S. Knicks in 🖐️)

In 2020, USMNT’s Gio Reyna wrote about his older brother, Jack, who passed away from brain cancer: “The next few years after Jack’s death were very difficult for the whole family. Personally, I just felt lost. Sports became my getaway.” playerstribu.ne/Reyna

In a letter to the children of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Džeko wrote about qualifying for his country’s first World Cup in 2014: “I grew up with war. Suddenly, I was living a fairy tale. Nothing is ever impossible. Not even taking Bosnia to the World Cup.” playerstribu.ne/Dzeko

One of Harry Kane’s biggest inspirations? Tom Brady: “Brady believed in himself so much — and he just kept working and working, almost obsessively, in order to get better. It really connected with me.” playerstribu.ne/HKane

“I wrote this because I can’t speak about it. I wrote this because I want you to know that I will make sure that you live on.” RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande on the life of his sister, Roxane. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/yan-diomande-soccer-bundesliga-rb-leipzig-ivory-coast

Diogo Dalot remembers his friend and teammate, Diogo Jota: “This summer, it will be very different. We will not just have 26 players. We will be 26 + 1.... We’ll be fighting for Diogo.” playerstribu.ne/Dalot

Amadou Onana’s story would not be possible without his family and country: “I came to this country at 11 years old as a Black, Muslim immigrant. Through football, I got to play at the World Cup.... Every time I think about it, I still get chills.” playerstribu.ne/Amadou

From the grocery story to the pitch. @mancity and @onsoranje midfielder Tijjani Reijnders’ first contract wasn’t with a team — it was Aldi. playerstribu.ne/Tijjani

At 19 years old, Tijjani Reijnders was working at his local Aldi supermarket. The Netherlands and Manchester City midfielder on his surreal path to the Premier League. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/tijjani-reijnders-manchester-city-premier-league-soccer-netherlands

When Edin Džeko was a child, he survived the four-year Siege of Sarajevo. Before he captains Bosnia & Herzegovina at this World Cup, he has a message for the children. And for the world.

From a young age, Devin Vassell knew exactly the type of basketball player that he wanted to be: “Every hooper got that one guy from their hometown that made them fall in love with the game. Everybody got that guy. For me? That was Lou Will.” playerstribu.ne/DevinVassell

On Rondale Moore’s birthday, A.J. Green remembers his friend in a touching tribute. playerstribu.ne/Rondale

“When you can look back and savour all the sweet moments with only gratitude and zero regret, that’s when you know it’s time to say goodbye.” Divock Origi announces his retirement from football. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/divock-origi-soccer-retirement-belgium-liverpool

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere can thank his sister for his love of hockey: “Without her, I’m not sure I would’ve had the drive necessary to get to the level I wanted to reach. I saw her work ethic and her passion, and it showed me the way.” playerstribu.ne/Ghost

Jalen Brunson’s work ethic is unmatched: “It’s all about your concentration, your preparation and making sure that you’re putting yourself in a position to know that you did everything you could. That’s how you erase that sense of doubt.” playerstribu.ne/JalenBrunson

“Even close to death, I was thinking about football.” Diogo Dalot on his rise to the top, Machester United’s inevitable comeback and representing Portugal​​ at the World Cup. www.theplayerstribune.com/diogo-dalot-...

“If you want a good football story, watch a good football match. This is life I’m talking about.” Amadou Onana owes a lot to Belgium for beginning his football career, but he also wants to pay respects to the people who have been with him the entire way. www.theplayerstribune.com/amadou-onana...

“Gaël Monfils, he meant so much to tennis … but also something so much deeper than tennis.” Ahead of his final Roland Garros, Elina Svitolina pens a tribute to Gaël Monfils for their daughter, Skaï. ❤️

“Nothing would mean more to me than to win this trophy. This club means everything to me.” Aston Villa fans, Ezri Konsa wrote this for you before the Europa League final tomorrow.

“Deciding to step away from the game was one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do. But I absolutely DID have to do it.” In 2025, Jaire Alexander abruptly walked away from football. He explains why he had to make that decision for his mental health.

Attention, Montréal Canadiens fans. Cole Caufield is currently locked in. But he left this letter with us to share with you before Game 3: “MONTRÉAL!!!! We want the Bell Centre ROCKIN’ tomorrow night!!!”

Wemby. Fox. Harper. Champagnie. Vassell. And the sixth man, Keldon Johnson. This is his story.

“I’m the best receiver in this draft. But, at the end of the day, I’m so much more than just a football player.” Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion has something to say before the NFL Draft.

“The more time that passes, the more I understand that we still got to do something special.” Ernie Clement has a few things to say before the Toronto Blue Jays season opener.

“I couldn’t bend. So I broke.” Lauren Betts opens up about recovering from hospitalization and being embraced by her UCLA family.

“Man, I swear….. sometimes he really did feel like my son. I hope he knew I really did love him that way.” A.J. Green remembers his friend and teammate, Rondale Moore. ❤️

Before he takes the mound to represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic for the first time, Paul Skenes writes a letter to the next generation.

Hi, I’m Lily and I play volleyball for Notre Dame. Two years ago, I got a text about AI deepfake nudes — of me, and other female athletes — being posted online. It turned my life into a horror movie. I survived. Many people don’t. I’m telling my story now, for all of us.

“I don’t need a break, or a fresh start. I just want to be in Edmonton, playing hockey. I want to get back there again, whatever it takes. If that sounds like a robot, then I guess I’m a robot.” Connor McDavid, in his own words.

“I’d wake up early in the morning, and the first thing I’d do was bet.” New England Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte opens up about his past struggles with gambling addiction.

A letter from Elsa Mendoza to her son, Fernando.

Baseball is for everyone. In 2022, Kelsie Whitmore shared her goal of playing pro baseball and making the sport attainable for all. Three years later, she was drafted first-overall in the Women's Pro Baseball League. playerstribu.ne/Kelsie

“I was born for Showtime, bro.” This is George Pickens.

“It was almost like Chad crammed 100 years of personality and laughs and dance moves into five years of life.” Notre Dame QB CJ Carr remembers his brother, Chad, on the anniversary of his passing.

After his final game, Clayton Kershaw is a champion once again. His kids couldn’t be prouder. 💙

“You’re gonna be the best one there. You’re gonna win!” Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s daughter, Vlaimel, leaves her dad an adoring voicemail that tugs on the heartstrings.

“Every waking second, my dad sacrificed for my dream.” This is George Russell.