N'golo "Modest" Kante

The famous N'golo Kante. Arguably the best central midfielder in today's world. Although many would point a gun at me at this stage but I'll carry on. You see Kante is a type of player that works for the ball. The very barebone structure of a midfielder is to link the play between the defense and the offense. I know modern day midfielders are all about creating attacks, pressing from the front and whatnot, assessing the field and find pockets of space from the deep. While on the other hand there are midfielders who shield the defense. They mop up loose balls in the midfield allowing the defense to stay in shape, an extra guard to hold off the opposition orchestra. And then there is Kante. He shields the defense, runs like a steam train on the field, and carries the ball forward for the team. Going that extra yard before releasing the ball to the more advanced players. This electrifying workrate makes him a very valuable asset. By this workrate he shows that he alone is enough to compensate for two players. And we have seen examples of it many times. A top formed Kante literally takes Chelsea to the shore single handedly. All the space he covers gives the other players chance to express themselves without worrying about defense. But underneath this machine like being there is a human. A very humble story, of a very humble man.

The word N'golo actually does mean something. Kante once demonstrated the meaning of his name saying his parents would call him that as it was the name of an ancient king of Mali. But this name now means to him more than over now. You see this N'golo guy from Mali, he was poor, had nothing in the beginning. Later in his life he was king, as i said earlier. Sounds familiar? Yes that's why I said it means a lot more to Kante now. From a mere garbage collector in the streets of Paris to well, let's start, world champion at both club level and country, European champion, English champion, Europa league winner, and the love of millions, big list. N'golo has won it all of course. So does he live the life of a king now? No actually. He still drives his old Mini Cooper where he has the luxury to buy Lamborghinis or Ferraris in the multiples. His answer is simple, the Mini still holds up pretty good. Kante is a shy person. After winning the world cup he was shy to ask his teammates to let him hold the trophy. Until N'zonzi noticed and gave it to him. Once also he was late in training in the french camp but he went without punishment just by apologizing. Everyone knows he's innocent. There was an incident of Kante spending time at an Arsenal fan's house at his request. I bet you all know that by now. As hard as steel he is on the field, he's as much as soft off the field. The money, fame, all that attention never got to him. Still the humble N'golo from 10 years ago. He never forgot his roots. So shouldn't we too. His calm behavior earned him the respect of almost every person who knows him. Literally an icon of a human being.