N’Golo Kanté could have worn Mali’s colors instead of the famous blue of France. On the podcast Jamie Vardy’s Having A Party, his former Leicester teammate Jamie Vardy revealed that the midfielder originally wanted to represent his father’s homeland.
France beat Mali to the punch
Jamie Vardy said: “N’Golo Kanté wanted to play for Mali, not France, as a tribute to his father’s roots.” But in Leicester’s training center in 2016, ahead of the Euro that same year, the Foxes helped change his mind: “But France called him before Mali did. We were at the training center and told him: ‘What are you thinking? They’ll win! Go to France!'” Vardy revealed.
😯 Jamie Vardy 🏴: “N’Golo Kanté 🇫🇷 wanted to play for Mali 🇲🇱 to honor his roots on his father’s side!We convinced him he’d win the World Cup with France 🇫🇷.” pic.twitter.com/cO0fj836aN
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) July 22, 2026
A Les Bleus legend
That decision proved to be a masterstroke for Kanté, who became a cornerstone of the French national team. With 69 international caps, two goals, and two major trophies, the 35-year-old midfielder has etched his name in Les Bleus history: Euro 2016 runner-up, 2018 World Cup champion, and a 2021 Nations League winner. He was even called up for the 2026 World Cup squad, though he didn’t make an appearance.
True to his roots
Vardy also recalled another story from their title-winning season with Leicester City in the Premier League. “He gave his Mini Cooper to his parents in the village and bought a new one after his teammates teased him about it.”
🗣️ Jamie Vardy: “N’Golo Kanté wanted to play for Mali to represent his roots, but he was convinced he’d become a World Cup winner with France.” pic.twitter.com/KEK77Rt62L
— PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) July 22, 2026
It’s a charming anecdote, but it speaks volumes about how deeply the former Chelsea star remains connected to his heritage. Though he chose France over the Eagles, Kanté has never forgotten his roots. He is often seen in Mali during holidays and is actively involved in social work there, having built a modern hospital and founded a football academy to nurture the next generation of talent.
Now with Fenerbahçe, Kanté remains a true model of humility.
Piala Dunia 2026
Piala Dunia FIFA 2026 akan menjadi edisi paling revolusioner dalam sejarah sepak bola dunia. Turnamen ini untuk pertama kalinya akan diselenggarakan di tiga negara sekaligus, yaitu Amerika Serikat, Kanada, dan Meksiko. Selain itu, jumlah peserta juga meningkat dari 32 menjadi 48 tim, membuka peluang lebih besar bagi negara-negara dari berbagai konfederasi untuk tampil di panggung global. Format baru ini akan menghadirkan lebih banyak pertandingan, atmosfer kompetisi yang lebih luas, serta jangkauan penonton yang semakin besar di seluruh dunia.
Dengan skala yang jauh lebih besar, FIFA menargetkan turnamen ini sebagai ajang yang tidak hanya kompetitif tetapi juga spektakuler dari sisi teknologi dan pengalaman penonton. Stadion-stadion modern di berbagai kota tuan rumah telah dipersiapkan untuk menghadirkan pertandingan berkelas dunia, didukung oleh inovasi seperti peningkatan sistem VAR dan pengalaman digital bagi fans. diprediksi akan menjadi tonggak baru dalam evolusi sepak bola internasional, memperkuat popularitas olahraga ini sekaligus menciptakan momen-momen bersejarah yang akan dikenang dalam waktu lama.
