Ibrahima Konate outlines battle with depression after deaths of Diogo Jota and father

During this difficult time, Konate also carried the burden of knowing that her father was seriously ill.

“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know if I should go home and stop playing because the team needed me too,” he added.

“I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself. The advice I would give to everyone is: When you feel bad or something is going on, you should talk to those around you.

“This might help you and feel good. I didn’t talk about it and kept it to myself.

“Doctors told us he didn’t have long to live, but we didn’t know it would happen so quickly.”

Konate returned early from sabbatical leave at the end of January to help Liverpool avoid an injury crisis, but the centre-back admitted things never quite worked out.

He made 51 appearances in the 2025–26 season, 49 of which were starts, but was unable to consistently display the best form he had displayed in his previous four seasons on Merseyside, with Liverpool finishing fifth in the Premier League.

Konate, who played for France 27 times, is in Didier Deschamps’ 26-man squad for the World Cup and Les Bleus is among the favorites.

“There was never a moment when I felt like I was healed,” he added.

“All these tragic events happened so quickly, and as soon as I felt my head above water, something else happened.

“At Liverpool I had the incredible support of the fans, my teammates and especially my family, but I also had to learn how to stand on my own two feet because the team needed me more than ever and I know my father would want me to come back.”

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, you can find information and support at: BBC’s Action Line.