N'Golo Kanté's journey from Ligue 2 to one of the highest-paid players in the world

In professional football, the highest level attracts the most attention because it is more attractive to spectators.

However, in the lower divisions of football, there have been a number of hidden gems who have gone on to become great players, despite their less-than-stellar beginnings.

Such is the case with French international N'Golo Kanté, who took longer than normal to reach the highest level before becoming one of the best in his position and one of the highest-paid players in the world.

The biggest talents usually blossom early and make their professional debuts quickly, but this was not the case for Kanté.

At the age of 19, the midfielder signed an amateur contract with US Boulogne. After the first team's descent into the third-tier Championnat National, he managed to earn a place in the professional squad.

After impressing with the first team, the Frenchman began to attract the attention of several clubs, including Stade Malherbe de Caen, who signed him in 2013.

In Ligue 2, he made a strong impression, finishing in the Team of the Season. He then moved up to Ligue 1 and continued to impress.

His excellent level then enabled him to take on the greatest challenge of his career, at the age of 24, by signing for Leicester in the Premier League in 2015.

Leicester won their first ever Premier League title that year, largely thanks to an excellent Kanté in midfield throughout the season.

That season saw him join the French national team for Euro 2016, where Les Bleus lost the final to Portugal (1-0).

His extraordinary season also allowed him to join Premier League giants Chelsea, with whom he won a second successif PL title.

His level continued to improve each season, and he quickly became one of the most appreciated and sought-after players in Europe, cited as one of the best in his position.

He was then named in Les Bleus's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, winning the greatest trophy of his entire career after beating Croatia in the final.

In 2021, he won the second most important trophy of his career, the Champions League, with Chelsea, being one of the main architects of his club's victory.

In the summer of 2023, the Frenchman, who had two difficult seasons due to injuries signed for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad at the age of 32.

With the Saudi club, Kanté is set to earn around 25 million euros a season, for a total of 100 million euros over the 4 years of his contract.

This is the final chapter in a rather exceptional career for Kanté, who took his time to break through and become one of the best in his position, confirming that nothing is impossible, even in professional football.