N’Golo Kante’s stellar international career with France – crowned by lifting the 2018 World Cup – almost never happened, according to a remarkable revelation from his former Leicester City team-mate Jamie Vardy.
The 35-year-old midfielder, now with Fenerbahce, has been a central figure for Les Bleus for the best part of a decade. He helped France reach the Euro 2016 final on home soil, was instrumental in their 2018 World Cup triumph in Russia, and returned to the squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
But Vardy says Kante initially dreamed of representing Mali, the country of his father’s origin, rather than the nation where he was born and raised.
Speaking to French outlet Foot Mercato, Vardy said: “كان نجولو كانتي يرغب في تمثيل مالي، وليس فرنسا، تكريما لجذور والده”.
(“N’Golo Kante wanted to represent Mali, not France, in honour of his father’s roots.”)
He added: “اقنعناه بانه سيفوز بكاس العالم مع فرنسا. لقد اهدى سيارته الميني كوبر لوالديه في القرية واشترى واحدة اخرى عندما سخر منه زملاوه”.
(“We convinced him that he would win the World Cup with France. He gave his Mini Cooper to his parents in the village and bought another one when his team-mates made fun of him.”)
A decade at the heart of Les Bleus
Since making his international debut, Kante has become one of the defining players of the Didier Deschamps era.
He has made 69 appearances for France, scoring two goals and collecting two major titles: the 2018 World Cup and the UEFA Nations League in 2021.
Long valued for his tireless work rate, reading of the game and ball-winning ability, the former Leicester and Chelsea midfielder has been a regular presence in France’s midfield, often shielding the defence while allowing the team’s attacking talents to flourish.
Kante’s influence has stretched across multiple tournaments, from the heartbreak of losing the Euro 2016 final in Paris to the redemption of becoming world champions two years later.
Leicester bond and World Cup prediction
Vardy and Kante forged a strong bond during Leicester City’s historic Premier League title win in the 2015-16 season.
The Frenchman’s relentless pressing and interceptions underpinned the club’s improbable run, with Vardy leading the line in attack. Their partnership not only delivered a shock league triumph but, according to Vardy, also shaped Kante’s international future.
The England striker’s claim that he and others convinced Kante he could become a world champion with France adds a striking twist to the story of one of modern football’s most respected midfielders.
Kante’s eventual choice to represent France over Mali has had profound consequences for both nations: France gained a key component of a World Cup-winning side, while Mali missed out on a player who might have transformed their prospects on the international stage.
Humble star with global impact
Beyond trophies, Kante has become known for his modesty and low-profile lifestyle, a reputation reinforced by Vardy’s anecdote about the Mini Cooper that Kante used to drive during his early Premier League days.
The story of him gifting that car to his parents in their village, then replacing it after team-mates teased him, fits with the public image of a player who has remained grounded despite his rise to global stardom.
From nearly choosing Mali to standing on football’s biggest podium with France, Kante’s international journey underscores how a single decision – and a little dressing-room persuasion – can alter the course of football history.
