Ranking the 10 best midfielders in the world

#3 N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)

Kante's rise to the top has been remarkable

Five years ago, no one would have predicted the rise of N’Golo Kante, least of all the man himself. Having joined Leicester City for just £5.6 million from Caen in 2015 as a relatively unknown name, Kante quickly established himself in the Premier League, and was brilliant in the Foxes’ remarkable run to the title. This was enough to persuade Chelsea to make a move for the Frenchman, and even at £30 million, that looks like a real bargain for the Blues.

He isn’t the most technically gifted player on the list, but he brings so much to the teams he plays for. He covers so much ground, wins the ball back on so many occasions, and just gives the players around him a license to go forward, fully in the knowledge that he is capable of covering for them. He was the best player in the Premier League in the 2016/17 season, and was brilliant once again as France won the World Cup in Russia this summer. All this, and he still remains one of the most humble players in football.