Advertisement

Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté is the hero that football needs

N'Golo Kanté plays against Everton, at Stamford Bridge.
‘As stories of corruption and greed have come to light, N’Golo Kanté is the one player who has stood out for the right reasons.’ Kanté in action for Chelsea against Everton. Photograph: Jed Leicester/BPI/REX/Shutterstock

The unofficial anthem of the French World Cup win this past summer was an ode to Chelsea’s defensive midfielder, 27-year-old N’Golo Kanté. On their victory lap after the competition, Paul Pogba took every opportunity to get the crowds singing along: “N’Golo Kanté, Pala Lalala, he’s short, he’s nice, he stopped Leo Messi, but we all know he’s a cheater, N’Golo Kanté ... ”

The idea of Kanté – who has a reputation for being the nice guy of football – as a cheater was tongue in cheek. The lyrics sprang to mind this week after revelations that the player had refused a proportion of his salary to be paid under an offshore tax haven, despite alleged pressure from his club, Chelsea. While stories of corruption and greed in football have come to light in a series of reports from the German paper Der Spiegel, Kanté is probably the one player who has stood out for the right reasons.

Before Kanté’s transfer to Chelsea, a company was reportedly set up in Jersey in order for some of his image rights to be paid there, so that they would avoid being taxed. Such practices are common in the world of international football, but Kanté’s refusal to be paid in such a way has been refreshing. French website Mediapart reported that sources said “N’Golo is unflinching. He just wants a normal salary.”

Contrast this to the story of Lionel Messi, who, along with his father, Jorge, was found guilty of defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.6m) between 2007 and 2009. Despite having broken the law, his 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud was changed to a fine of €252,000 (£223,000): €400 (£353) for each day of the sentence. His father’s 15-month sentence was replaced with a €180,000 (£158,675) fine.

Lionel Messi
‘Lionel Messi, along with his father, Jorge, was found guilty of defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.6m) between 2007 and 2009. Photograph: Eric Alonso/Action Plus via Getty Images

It’s not just Messi: the corruption runs deep through the modern-day game. That’s why Kanté’s story is a story, and why he’s the role model that the game needs.

Kanté’s journey in recent years is one that demonstrates humility and great achievement. After moving to Leicester City in 2015 from French team Caen, he went on to make history alongside Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy in securing the historic Premier League win for the club. He moved to Chelsea the following season, and won the trophy that year, too. Then he played a crucial role in France winning the World Cup this summer, but even then was too shy to hold the trophy as other players jostled to have their photo taken with it.

Off the pitch, he turns up to work in a Mini Cooper and, in September, he made headlines after accepting an invitation to a fan’s house after meeting him in a mosque near King’s Cross, having missed his Eurostar to Paris. He ended up having a curry, playing Fifa and watching Match of the Day with these total strangers, which delighted fans around the world. In a culture of bravado, fast cars and hedonism, Kanté is striking for his down-to-earth manner and cheeky smile. Yes, he’s won the Premier League and the World Cup, but he has achieved greatness while also being a nice guy.

Upon hearing the news that Kanté refused to be paid through an offshore account this week, his French teammate and Juventus midfielder, Blaise Matuidi, said: “I didn’t really follow this story, but I’m not surprised because it is N’Golo. He’s perfect, he doesn’t cheat. Just a bit when he plays cards.” N’Golo Kanté, we appreciate you.

•Iman Amrani is a Guardian multimedia journalist