Olivier Giroud still remembers the day N’Golo Kanté pulled him aside at Chelsea, fresh off their 2018 World Cup triumph, and quietly suggested it might be time to step away from international football. “No NG,” Giroud told him, “you are top of the world.” Eight years later, at 35, Kanté is back in the France squad—not as a relic, but as a vital force. While he’s played in Saudi Arabia and, since February, for Fenerbahçe in Turkey—leagues once considered too distant for national team consideration—Didier Deschamps has made an exception, because Kanté, as Giroud puts it, “is NG. You can always count on him.” His presence brings balance to a France midfield that could otherwise lean too heavily on attacking talents like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué. In 2018, France spent just nine minutes behind across 630 minutes of World Cup football, a testament to their defensive solidity, anchored by Kanté and Paul Pogba. That equilibrium remains essential. Even if Kanté doesn’t start every match, his impact is guaranteed. “When I played with him, I used to say we played with 12 men because he can do two jobs,” Giroud recalls. His relentless energy and unshakable mentality don’t just win tackles—they inspire teammates to push harder, run longer, believe deeper. But Kanté’s value extends beyond the pitch. Quiet and reserved, he’s known as a 'casanier'—a homebody—who unwinds with chess on his phone. Alongside Giroud and Christian Pulisic, he once formed the “Chelsea Chess Club,” where Kanté’s competitive fire shone through—even if Giroud eventually got revenge with a Scrabble win so decisive Kanté refused to play again. “He hates losing,” Giroud laughs, “like me.” Now, as the oldest player in the squad, Kanté’s humility and joy become leadership. Younger players see him sprinting, smiling, sacrificing—and they follow. In a team searching for cohesion, his presence is both anchor and spark. As France looks to recapture its past glory, one thing is clear: the engine room still runs on NG.