France national team: Jamie Vardy explains why N'Golo Kanté considered representing Mali

A key figure for the French national team for many years, N'Golo Kanté could have written a very different story on the international stage. Before becoming one of the pillars of Les Bleus, the former Leicester and Chelsea midfielder had seriously considered representing Mali, his father's country of origin.

A World Cup winner in 2018, Nations League winner in 2021, and Euro 2016 finalist, Kanté has established himself as one of the best midfielders of his generation. With 69 caps for France, the now 35-year-old, who is also in the French squad for the 2026 World Cup, has left a lasting mark on the history of Les Bleus.

But his international career could have taken a very different turn. In a recent podcast, his former Leicester City teammate, Jamie Vardy, revealed that Kanté initially harbored the desire to represent the Eagles of Mali in order to pay homage to his family's origins.

"N'Golo Kanté wanted to represent Mali, not France, to honor his father's roots. We convinced him that he would win the World Cup with France," the English striker said.

Vardy also shared an anecdote illustrating the discreet and generous personality of the former Leicester and Chelsea player. According to him, while playing for the Blues, Kanté gave his Mini Cooper to his parents, who had remained in their village, before buying a new one. This gesture prompted a few jokes from his teammates, but it didn't change the unassuming nature that characterizes the French midfielder.