N'Golo Kante is the nicest man in football.
He drives a banged up old Mini, does his shopping at Asda, and meets up with fans to play FIFA.
As the midfield maestro lights up Euro 2024, here's the story of football's loveliest bloke...
He drives a banged up old Mini, does his shopping at Asda, and meets up with fans to play FIFA.
As the midfield maestro lights up Euro 2024, here's the story of football's loveliest bloke...
Our story begins in the Parisian suburbs, where a teenage Kante stars in the youth team of local side JS Suresnes.
But he's half the size of his teammates...
When he wins a player of the tournament award, the mini midfielder (far left) looks on as his pals hoist his trophy.
But he's half the size of his teammates...
When he wins a player of the tournament award, the mini midfielder (far left) looks on as his pals hoist his trophy.
After being rejected by a string of Ligue 1 clubs, he signs for Boulogne on an amateur contract.
He turns out for the 3rd division side while travelling to training on a kids scooter.
Alongside football, he takes evening classes and qualifies as an accountant.
He turns out for the 3rd division side while travelling to training on a kids scooter.
Alongside football, he takes evening classes and qualifies as an accountant.
After signing for Leicester in 2015, Kante's teammates have to talk him out of running several miles to training every day.
And he befriends a Leicester-supporting barber at a local mosque, regularly popping into his salon - Suez Canal Hairstylz - for £10 trims.
And he befriends a Leicester-supporting barber at a local mosque, regularly popping into his salon - Suez Canal Hairstylz - for £10 trims.
After agreeing not to run to work, Kante decides to invest in a new motor.
While his teammates opt for Bentleys and Range Rovers, Kante goes for a cream Mini Cooper.
He even carries on driving it to matches after pranging the wing mirror on a lorry.
While his teammates opt for Bentleys and Range Rovers, Kante goes for a cream Mini Cooper.
He even carries on driving it to matches after pranging the wing mirror on a lorry.
And he was still driving it years later...
Here he is leaving Stamford Bridge after Chelsea made it to the Champions League final.
Here he is leaving Stamford Bridge after Chelsea made it to the Champions League final.
When young Leicester academy player Cedric Kipre is kicked out of his apartment, Kante lets the Frenchman and his brother come and live with him for a month.
"It was really nice of him" Kipre explains, "There is nobody more humble than N'Golo."
"It was really nice of him" Kipre explains, "There is nobody more humble than N'Golo."
After signing for Chelsea, the club offer to pay Kante's wages into an offshore account.
But he insists on receiving them to his regular bank so he can pay his full taxes.
But he insists on receiving them to his regular bank so he can pay his full taxes.
Despite earning £290,000 a week, Kante does his weekly shop at Asda, scouring the aisles for 2-for-1 deals.
And he wouldn't be spotted dead with a gold leaf tomahawk steak: he'd prefer dough balls and a Sloppy Giuseppe at Pizza Express instead.
And he wouldn't be spotted dead with a gold leaf tomahawk steak: he'd prefer dough balls and a Sloppy Giuseppe at Pizza Express instead.
And when he pops into another London restaurant, the owner is so enamoured by the Chelsea midfielder that he invites him to his daughter's wedding.
Kante turns up in his best cardigan, and spends the evening posing for pictures and chatting with guests.
Kante turns up in his best cardigan, and spends the evening posing for pictures and chatting with guests.
After missing his Eurostar to Paris, Kante finds a mosque near Kings Cross for his evening prayers.
He bumps into an Arsenal fan, who invites him round for dinner.
Kante goes home with the bloke and they order a curry, play FIFA, and watch him on Match Of The Day.
He bumps into an Arsenal fan, who invites him round for dinner.
Kante goes home with the bloke and they order a curry, play FIFA, and watch him on Match Of The Day.
He bumps into another Arsenal supporter hours after Chelsea's 3-2 win against the Gunners.
When the fan explains his disappointment, Kante apologises to him for the result.
When the fan explains his disappointment, Kante apologises to him for the result.
He still has a ruthless streak though... On international duty with France, Kylian Mbappe catches him cheating at Uno.
Kante later admits he uses "some little strategies" to win...
And he rage quits when 4-0 down in a FIFA game against Callum Hudson-Odoi...
Kante later admits he uses "some little strategies" to win...
And he rage quits when 4-0 down in a FIFA game against Callum Hudson-Odoi...
When France lift the World Cup, their joyous players take it in turns to parade the trophy around the pitch.
But Kante is too shy to ask for a turn.
So Steven N'Zonzi grabs the trophy and thrusts it into the midfielder's arms.
But Kante is too shy to ask for a turn.
So Steven N'Zonzi grabs the trophy and thrusts it into the midfielder's arms.
When a reporter asks Kante about claims he's the "nicest man in football", the midfielder laughs and brushes it off.
“I always try to give my best... That's not because I'm nice or something. I'm just myself.”
Never change, N'golo...
“I always try to give my best... That's not because I'm nice or something. I'm just myself.”
Never change, N'golo...
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