20.07.2026 13:01
Fenerbahçe's star Kante ended his career with the French National Team without playing time in the World Cup. Didier Deschamps' refusal to give Kante playing time even in the third-place match sparked major backlash in the country.
Experienced footballer N'Golo Kanté, who won the World Cup with the French National Team in 2018, became a national hero for the French people, and continues his career at Fenerbahçe, bid a disappointing farewell to the 2026 World Cup.
BID FAREWELL WITHOUT PLAYING EVEN A SINGLE MINUTE
The experienced midfielder, despite being included in the tournament squad, was not fielded by head coach Didier Deschamps in any match. The star footballer, who decided to retire from the national team, completed the tournament including the third-place match without getting a single minute of playing time, sparking major controversy in French football circles.
HARSH CRITICISM: ''WHY WAS HE CALLED UP TO THE SQUAD?''
While Didier Deschamps' decision became the target of criticism in the French press, football authorities and fans raised the question: "If he wasn't going to be played, why was he called up to the squad?" Reports in L'Equipe and Foot Mercato emphasized that Kanté did not deserve such an end to his national team career.