N'Golo Kanté #13

Profile

When Kanté left Chelsea off the back of a season where injuries limited him to just nine appearances in all competitions, he was written off, especially when the midfielder chose to continue his career in the Saudi Pro League. But Deschamps is loyal; his selection choices have proven that in recent years, and all the France manager needed to be convinced to reintegrate Kanté was for him to play. He did that in the Gulf State. Not only was Kanté back for Euro 2024, he even once wore the captain's armband for the very first time. His humility has become his trademark, but it can also have the effect of masking his great ambition. "I don't simply dream of playing at the World Cup, I want to win it," said Kanté, whose days in Bleu, many thought, were numbered. He arrives at the World Cup having played at Fenerbahce since the start of February.

Key stats