Lanthanum dialkyldithiophosphate (LaDDP) was synthesized. Its tribological behavior was evaluated with a four-ball machine. The results show that LaDDP possesses very good antiwear and friction reduction capacities. The boundary film composition, characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), reveals that the antiwear and friction reduction layer containing metallic La, La2O3, phosphate, sulphate, tribopolmer and lanthanum tribodiffusion layer prevent the rubbing pairs from contacting directly and result in better extreme pressure and antiwear behavior. The microhardness of frictional surface increases by 25%. It indicates that the frictional surface is strengthened by La tribodiffusion layer. The tribological decomposition reactions of LaDDP are simulated through mass spectroscopy. Its tribological mechanism was suggested.