¿How a son of Mali immigrants became one of the best soccer players in the world?
Kanté was born in Paris to Malian parents who migrated to France from Mali in 1980.
- Kanté had grown up in Paris as the first of nine siblings.
- Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Diego Maradona were his favorite players growing up.
Kanté used to help his father collect rubbish from the streets as a child, walking for miles around the suburbs in the east of the city looking for valuable waste to collect and deliver to small reclining firms for quick cash.
- In the world cup of 1998 kante prospered financially by making more money collecting trash dropped by football fans across the stadiums.
He started his youth career in the year 1999 at the age of 8. He started playing for JS Suresnes and continued his stay there for more than a decade until 2010. He was often taken away from the radar because of his small stature by the bigger teams.
- His father died shortly after N’Golo turned 11.
Teenage Kanté had struggled to find a professional club. PSG, Sochaux, Rennes, Lorient and the prestigious academy Clairefontaine all rejected him, largely due to Kanté being ‘too small’.
- Piotr Wojtyna coached him for years and the Pole was always impressed by both his athleticism and ability to learn.
In the summer of 2012, Kanté finally found a move. A successful week’s trial at US Boulogne, newly relegated from Ligue 1, earned him a place with their reserve team and a jump to France’s sixth tier. (21 years old)
- Kante said in an interview “When I heard stories of Didier Drogba and Adil Rami, who went from being amateurs to becoming professional, it was a source of strength and told me that it was possible, even if you start from a long way off.”
In 2013, he joined Ligue 2 side Caen and played all 38 games in his first season as they came third in Ligue 2, earning them promotion to Ligue 1.
- The following season, Kanté played 37 games as Caen remained in the top flight; He recovered the ball more times over the season than any other player in Europe.
- At the age of 21, he earned a diploma in vocational accounting.
Kanté was scouted for Premier League club Leicester City by Steve Walsh On 3 August 2015, he joined Leicester on a four-year contract, for an undisclosed fee reported to be worth €8 million (£5.6 million).
- Win the 2015–16 Premier League.
- By the end of the season, Kanté had managed 175 tackles (31 more than any other player) and 157 interceptions (15 more than any other player).
On 16 July 2016, Kanté signed for Chelsea for a reported fee of £32 million. After signing a five-year contract with the club, Kanté said: “I am so happy to have signed for one of the biggest clubs in Europe. It’s a dream come true for me.”
- On 26 December 2016, Kanté was named by L’Équipe as the world’s sixth best footballer of 2016.
- He was also later named League Player of the Season.
- In October 2017, Kanté was nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
- Kanté’s former Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, praised his work ethic and constant willingness to improve.
On 17 May 2018, he was called up to the 23-man French squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
- He featured in all 7 matches for France in the tournament.
- He won the world cup.
- Hisis elder sibling Niama died of a heart-attack before the 2018 World Cup.
Deschamps said his sole role being to pass the ball to his team-mates. Kante is the water-collector and carrier. The ultimate firefighter.
Despite all the complications, he went ahead and became one of the best players of our time. The main keys to his success were discipline, perseverance and always seeking to improve, leaving the ego aside.
