Barely 6 years ago, N’Golo Kanté played for Caen in the French second division. The palmares that the midfielder has built up since then looks quite impressive: national titles with Leicester City and Chelsea, the FA Cup, the world title with France and yesterday the Champions League.
“He’s really unbelievably good,” ex-Chelsea player Joe Cole waved praise on British channel BT Sport. “My jaw drops when I see him playing football. I played at Chelsea with Claude Makelele. He was the very best in that position, until Kanté came. That is an even better version of Makelele.”
“Like a striker has a nose for goals, Kanté has a kind of instinct in midfield. Gundogan, Silva and Foden were not involved, because Kanté was in between.”
Brazilian Ramires, also ex-Chelsea, thinks Kanté can win the Golden Ball. “He’s an amazing player. He shows up everywhere: in defense, in midfield, on attack. His level is really impressive. It’s not easy for a defensive midfielder to win the Golden Ball, but Kanté would deserve it”, Ramires said.
Kanté himself maintained his modest self. “This is the result of hard work,” said the 30-year-old Frenchman. “The fact that we have won the final is the work of the whole team. I am very proud.”
