Sportskeeda Football Awards 2016: Midfielder of the Year

#2 N’golo Kante (Reader's rank: 4 | Sportskeeda's rank: 1)

Leicester City captured everyone’s imagination with their stunning performances this season. While Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez ran away with all the plaudits, the importance of N’golo Kante in the central midfielder role cannot be underestimated.

Kante’s positional sense and awareness of the game is second to none and he heads the list for the most interceptions in the Premier League this year. Kante’s ability to regain possession in the centre of the park has been vital, while his willingness to storm forward with the ball at his feet has created many openings for Leicester City and now Chelsea this season.

In a recent interview with Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sera, 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.”

Kante has continued his excellent form at Chelsea this season and for his stupendous performances this year, Kante was ranked as the best midfileder of the year from our Sportskeeda’s football team. The readers however, ranked him 4 and for that, he is at the second position.