“It devastated me”: Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate reveals how Diogo Jota and father’s deaths changed everything

Ibrahima Konate has opened up about one of the hardest periods of his life, revealing that the deaths of Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota and his own father left him struggling with depression during the 2025-26 season. The France defender said the emotional pain became so heavy that he lost interest in everything around him. Speaking to France Inter radio, Konate explained how the shock of Jota’s death in a car crash in Spain, followed months later by the loss of his father Hamady Konate, affected both his personal life and his performances on the field. Despite continuing to play for Liverpool, he admitted there were times when he felt overwhelmed and did not know how to deal with everything happening around him. Konate, who is set to leave Liverpool after his contract expires this summer, said the support of his family, teammates, and Liverpool fans helped him keep going through a season filled with grief and emotional challenges.

Ibrahima Konate says Diogo Jota and father Hamady Konate’s deaths led to depression

Speaking about Diogo Jota’s death, Konate said the news left him devastated. The Portugal forward and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in Zamora, Spain, in July 2025. Konate remembered seeing Jota’s locker at Liverpool’s training ground and finding it difficult to accept that his teammate was gone.“Even today it’s hard to believe. His locker was still there in the dressing room, and every day when I was going to training he was coming with us.“I remember when I found out when I was in Los Angeles and I couldn’t believe it. It devastated me. I didn’t have any interest in anything else at that point. It was the last person anyone would have chosen this to happen to.”Konate said returning to football after the tragedy was not easy, but he felt a responsibility to play for Jota, his family, and Liverpool supporters.At the same time, he was dealing with another painful situation. His father had been seriously ill and spending weeks in hospital. Konate said doctors eventually told the family that his father did not have long to live. Hamady Konate died in January 2026.“I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself,” Konate said. He added that people should speak openly when they are struggling because sharing their feelings can help.The defender also spoke about depression in football and pushed back against the idea that professional athletes cannot suffer because they earn high salaries.“There are low points, there’s depression,” Konate said. “You can suffer from depression in football too; there’s no need to be ashamed to say so.”