For all those who believe that size matters, N’Golo Kanté will prove you wrong. With a height of 1m68, the France international is arguably one of the best midfielders in the modern soccer era.
N’Golo Kanté was born in Paris, France. He quickly became famous during his playing time at Leicester City in 2015. That season saw The Foxes crowned Premier League Champions. Besides, Kanté has also won the World Cup with his national side.
Often referred to like a shy person, Kanté is a dominating figure in the world of soccer. He bosses the midfield like no one can. In this article, we will look at the rise of N’Golo Kanté.
N’Golo Kanté Early Playing Career
Born on March 29, 1991, N’Golo Kanté started his professional career with Boulogne at 20. He played for the French side for two years before moving to Ligue 2 side, Caen, in 2013.
Kanté performance with Caen did not go unnoticed. He helped the French club to gain promotion to top-tier soccer the following season with a third-place finish. He did not miss a single match that season.
The French midfielder re-iterated his heroics in Ligue 1. He played in 37 matches, scoring two goals in the process. That season saw Caen secure a 13th place finish. Many clubs showed interest in the midfielder, but he eventually joined Leicester City for £5.6 million.
English Premier League Winners
The 2015-16 Premier League campaign saw the rise of N’Golo Kanté. The midfielder was an integral part of Leicester City title triumph. Leicester finished the season as Champions with 81 points, ten more than second-place Arsenal.
The French international produced the highest number of tackles and interceptions during the title-winning campaign of The Foxes. His superb display also earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year. It was one of the many awards won by Kanté that season.
Back-To-Back League Titles With Different Clubs
On July 16, 2016, N’Golo Kanté joined Chelsea for £32 million. Antonio Conte, who was the Chelsea manager, made the midfielder his number one target. The same season, Kanté excelled as a Chelsea player and played a pivotal role in their Premier League achievement.
Again, the performance of the player earned him some prestigious recognition. Kanté was named the Premier League Player of the Season. Besides, he also collected the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
N’Golo Kanté is the second player in Premier League history to win back-to-back league titles with different clubs after Eric Cantona.
More Trophies With Chelsea
The following season saw Kanté win the famous FA Cup trophy with The Blues. Chelsea defeated Manchester United in the finals by 1-0. The goal came from Eden Hazard from a penalty on the 22nd minute.
The FIFA World Cup 2018
Kanté was named in the France squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup that happened in Russia. The midfielder figured in every match and helped his national side qualify for the finals.
In the finals, France faced Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The fixture ended in a 4-2 win for Les Bleus. N’Golo Kanté joined the history book as he became one of the few players to have won the famous trophy.
2018-19 Europa League Final
Chelsea faced Arsenal in an all English final in the 2018-19 Europa League. The French midfielder produced an excellent display as the Blues lifted the trophy for a second time thanks to a 4-1 win over the Gunners.
Champions League Winner Medal
Kanté helped Chelsea advanced to the 2020-21 Champions League final. The Blues faced The Citizens at the Estádio do Dragão in Portugal.
Kanté, who figured in the entire match, produced a fantastic performance by bossing the midfield. He had an impressive 86% passing accuracy. Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game to hand Kanté his first Champions League winner medal.
References:
- Date accessed: May 28, 2021. Wikipedia. N’Golo Kanté: https://bit.ly/3g5YysP
- Date accessed: June 2, 2021. Wikipedia. 2018 Fa Cup Final: https://bit.ly/3cccUa7
- Date accessed: June 2, 2021. FIFA. 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: https://fifa.fans/3vLBTcb
- Date accessed: June 14, 2021. UEFA Official Website. Champions League Final 2020-21: https://bit.ly/3vp7vDg