Returning from Saudi Arabia, still a young hero! 35-year-old Kanté becomes France captain and defeats strong opponents, contributing 6 tackles.

After playing in Saudi Arabia, he remains an impassable barrier and a young hero on the pitch. This winter, Kanté willingly accepted a significant salary reduction to leave Saudi Arabia and return to Europe's mainstream leagues, joining Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Süper Lig. His goal is clear: to represent France in the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup. Kanté is a favorite of coach Didier Deschamps.

In an international friendly on March 30 at early Beijing time, France won 3-1 away against Colombia. Kanté, who just celebrated his 35th birthday, started the match wearing the captain's armband and played the full game. He performed excellently, with impressive stats, still demonstrating the level of a top-tier world-class midfielder.

Kanté's stats in this match: 2 clearances, 1 interception, 6 tackles, 77 touches (the highest in the match), 1 key pass, and a passing success rate of 89.7%. As Kanté continues playing in the Turkish Süper Lig and trains and plays with the French national team, his form is expected to improve further, making him a key player for France's 2026 World Cup squad.

Kanté can still compete in the 2026 World Cup in excellent form. Unfortunately for Paul Pogba, this midfield duo was once a perfect blend of attack and defense: Kanté with his interceptions and tackles, Pogba with his distribution and accurate long passes. France's forward line is rich in talent. With Kanté providing solid protection, the French team is expected to be one of the hottest contenders for the 2026 World Cup.