Giroud reveals Kanté almost retired from France after 2018 World Cup

N’Golo Kanté came close to never playing in a second World Cup wearing the French shirt. In a column dedicated to his former teammate ahead of France-Senegal, Olivier Giroud reveals that the midfielder had confided in him, upon their return to Chelsea after winning the 2018 World Cup, his intention to retire from the France team.

“When we were both back at Chelsea after winning the World Cup with France in 2018, N’Golo Kanté told me: ‘Oli, I think I’m going to retire from the national team’,” Giroud writes. France’s all-time leading goalscorer says he immediately tried to convince him to continue: “No NG, listen, you’re at the top of the world. I understand why you’re saying that, but you have to keep going. You’re too young to stop.”

Kanté was 27 at the time. Integrated late into the squad in March 2016, just months before Euro, he had formed with Paul Pogba one of the most formidable midfield duos of the Russian tournament. Seeing him leave the Blues at that precise moment, at the peak of his powers, would have been a considerable loss for Didier Deschamps.

Events proved Giroud right to push him to stay. Kanté did miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to injury, before joining Saudi Arabia and then Fenerbahçe. Deschamps nonetheless recalled him before Euro 2024, and the midfielder is now set to play what will be only his second World Cup in his career.