Everything you need to know about French phenomenon N'Golo Kante!
N'Golo Kante is a French professional football player who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Chelsea FC and the France national team. He was born on March 29, 1991, in Paris, France, and is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, known for his tireless work ethic, tactical intelligence, and ball-winning abilities.
Kante began his football career at the age of eight, playing for the JS Suresnes youth team in the Paris suburbs. He later joined the youth academy of Boulogne, where he made his professional debut in 2012. In 2013, he signed with SM Caen, where he played for two seasons before being signed by Leicester City.
His impressive performances caught the attention of Leicester City, who signed him in 2015 for a fee of £5.6 million. Kante was an integral part of Leicester's historic Premier League-winning campaign in the 2015-16 season. His performances for Leicester also earned him a call-up to the France national team, and he made his debut in March 2016.
Following his success with Leicester, Kante joined Chelsea in 2016 for a fee of £32 million. He quickly established himself as a key player for the club, helping them win the Premier League in his first season. Later on he would help them win their second Uefa Champions League trophy in 2021.
For France, he was an integral part of the team that won the 2018 Fifa World Cup, playing a crucial role in the midfield. Kante has made 53 appearances for France, scoring two goals. He has also participated in major international tournaments like the Uefa European Championship and the Uefa Nations League.
Kante's story have made him an inspiration not only for any child aspiring to be a world-class athlete in France, but people across the world to believe they can achieve whatever they want to. His humility and silent nature also makes him the ideal professional whom everyone can follow.
Here are 13 fun facts about N'Golo Kante you need to know…!
Roots that go back to Mali, Africa
N'Golo Kante's parents migrated from Mali to France in search of better opportunities.
Kante was born in Paris in 1991, where his father worked as a stonemason and his mother as a cleaner.
Kante's parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and determination to succeed.
AdvertisementHis name has royal origins
N'Golo Kante's parents named him after the great Mali emperor Ngolo Diarra of the Bambara empire.
Diarra was once a slave who, after receiving his freedom, overthrew the previous regime to establish himself as the ruler of Mali and begin a dynasty that ruled from 1766 to 1861.
It's fair to say the French midfielder has lived up to his name with a similar pivot to the top, going from the streets of Paris, to becoming one of the greatest players in football!
GettyInspired by France's 1998 World Cup victory
It was at the age of seven that Kante decided he wanted to become a professional footballer one day. Watching his nation win the 1998 World Cup was what triggered his desire to get into the sport. In particular, seeing the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, players with immigrant roots such as his own, enjoy great success for France proved crucial for making up his mind.
Thirty years later, the midfielder would himself be pivotal as France won the World Cup in 2018, thus bringing things a full circle.
Lack of success early on
While the midfielder is now a household name in the world of football, early on in his career barely any club took notice of him.
Due to his lack of height, many teams overlooked Kante, who was rejected by many academies including the likes of Rennes, Lorient, Sochaux, etc. Even the great Arsene Wenger decided against signing him when he was at JS Suresnes.
Ironically, the Gunners would try to sign him after his success with Leicester City in 2016, but would miss out to rivals Chelsea.