5 players who deserved to be on the 30 man Ballon d'Or shortlist

#4 N’golo Kante (Leicester City/Chelsea)

Leicester City captured everyone’s imagination with their fairytale Premier League triumph in the 2015/16 season. While Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez ran away with all the plaudits and secured Ballon d’Or nominations, arguably their most important player, N’golo Kante missed out.

The French midfielder arrived from Caen for £5.6m last season and was easily the best signing of last season. Kante’s positional sense, tactical reading and awareness for the game were in full display as he headed the list for most interceptions in the league, having made an incredible 156 interceptions in the League last season.

Kante’s ability to break down play and get things ticking in the midfield was absolutely vital for Leicester City last season and he has already played a vital role in Chelsea’s decent start this season, being the midfield enforcer in Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side.

In a recent interview with Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sera, former manager Ranieri praised Kante’s energy, awareness and reading of the game.“It will not surprise me the day he crosses the ball from the flank and gets into the penalty area to head it,” the Italian said.

“He is someone who knows where the ball will go, knows where the opposition will move, knows everything first.”

The man who made the most impossible Premier League triumph a reality definitely deserves his place on the list.