N’Golo Kante’s glittering international career with France almost never happened, according to former Leicester City team-mate Jamie Vardy, who says the midfielder initially intended to represent Mali to honour his family roots.
The 35-year-old, now at Fenerbahce, went on to become one of the pillars of the French national team for nearly a decade, helping Les Bleus reach the Euro 2016 final and win the 2018 World Cup, as well as the 2021 Nations League. He has earned 69 caps, scored two goals and collected two major international trophies.
Yet Vardy has revealed that Kante originally had his heart set on playing for Mali, the country of his father’s origin, before being persuaded to choose France.
‘He wanted to represent Mali’
Speaking to French outlet Foot Mercato, Vardy said Kante’s first instinct was to turn out for the West African nation rather than the country of his birth.
“كان نجولو كانتي يرغب في تمثيل مالي، وليس فرنسا، تكريما لجذور والده”.
Vardy, who formed a title-winning partnership with Kante during Leicester City’s remarkable 2015-16 Premier League triumph, suggested that team-mates played a part in changing the midfielder’s mind about his international future.
وتابع: “اقنعناه بانه سيفوز بكاس العالم مع فرنسا. لقد اهدى سيارته الميني كوبر لوالديه في القرية واشترى واحدة اخرى عندما سخر منه زملاوه”.
The prediction proved prescient. Kante became a key figure in Didier Deschamps’ midfield, renowned for his anticipation, work rate and tactical intelligence as France lifted the World Cup in Russia.
Decade of dominance with Les Bleus
Kante’s rise from the lower leagues of French football to the summit of the world game is one of the most notable stories of the modern era.
After breaking through at Boulogne and Caen, he joined Leicester City in 2015 and was instrumental in their shock Premier League title the following season. That form earned him a move to Chelsea and, soon after, a call-up to the French national side.
For almost 10 years he was a mainstay for France, anchoring midfield as they:
– Reached the final of Euro 2016 on home soil
– Won the 2018 World Cup in Russia
– Captured the UEFA Nations League title in 2021
His consistency and understated style made him a fan favourite and a trusted figure for Deschamps in major tournaments.
A career that might have been different
Had Kante followed his initial desire to represent Mali, his international story – and possibly France’s recent trophy haul – could have looked very different.
Mali, a regular presence at the Africa Cup of Nations, has produced several high-profile players but has yet to win a major international title. Kante’s decision to play for France placed him on a global stage and helped shape one of the most successful periods in the country’s football history.
Vardy’s comments underline how close that path came to changing – and how dressing-room persuasion, combined with Kante’s remarkable talent, helped steer him toward a World Cup-winning legacy with Les Bleus.
