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Former Chelsea skipper John Terry once expressed his wish to see former Blues teammate N’Golo Kante win the Ballon d’Or. Terry had lavished praise on the Frenchman for his humility as well as his on-field ability.
Kante joined the Blues from Leicester City in 2016 and left the west London club in 2023. The Frenchman was an ever-present figure throughout his seven-year stay at Stamford Bridge, helping the Blues win several trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League.
In the 2020-2021 season, N’Golo Kante played a key role in Chelsea’s second Champions League triumph. He was the 'Player of the Match' in the first and second legs of the semi-final against Real Madrid, as well as the final against Manchester City. Towards the start of the following season, he helped his side win the UEFA Super Cup.
Speaking to Stadium Astro in August 2021, Terry said Kante deserved to win the Ballon d’Or, opining that the Frenchman was underappreciated for his work rate on the pitch.
“Kante’s like 11 players on his own. What he does, he goes so under the radar. He is such a top-class player. I’d love to go see him win the Ballon d’Or or get the appreciation that I feel he deserves. He’s such a humble guy. He just goes about his business and keeps out of any trouble. He’s been a great asset for the football club, and we are very lucky to have him at Chelsea for sure.”
Kante and Terry shared the pitch on 10 occasions during their time at Stamford Bridge.
“It would be deserved too’’ – When Paul Pogba says former Chelsea player deserved to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi
Apart from John Terry, Paul Pogba once said that his fellow countryman N’Golo Kante deserves to win the 2021 Ballon d’Or.
Speaking to Eurosport before the 2021 Champions League final, Pogba claimed that the Ballon d’Or should go to Kante should the Blues win the famous 'Big Ears.'
“We talk a lot about his [Kante] performances but he has always been as good as ever. I said a long time ago that it would be appropriate, if Chelsea won, for him to win the Ballon d’Or. It would be deserved too.”
Kante is currently playing his trade with Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.
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Ezekiel Olamide
Ezekiel is a European football journalist who covers breaking news and transfer rumors at Sportskeeda. He is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Accounting and has a work experience of around 3 years, having previously worked at the likes of Opera News Hub and Extratime Talk. He is a proponent of factual accuracy, meticulous research, verification of sources and journalistic ethics and standards.
An ardent Chelsea fan, Ezekiel's journey as a football fan began in his childhood, witnessing Ronaldinho dazzle with his skills. His interest in the beautiful game deepened after Nigeria were knocked out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup; he was impressed with the Super Eagles' fighting spirit in their 2-2 Group B draw against South Korea. Some other World Cup matches which have left a deep impact on him were Belgium's incredible comeback against Japan in the round of 16 of the 2018 version and the 2022 final.
Lionel Messi is the one true GOAT for Ezekiel and he also follows the Major League Soccer and the Saudi Pro League owing to him and Cristiano Ronaldo. When not writing, he spends his free time deepening his SEO knowledge and watching skits.
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Edited by Parag Jain