Olivier Giroud wants you to know something about N’Golo Kante: the man is basically impossible to replace. The French striker, himself a 2018 World Cup winner, has gone on record praising his longtime international teammate’s mentality, work ethic, and sheer gravitational pull on the dressing room as France gears up for the 2026 World Cup.

Kante is roughly 35 years old. He plays his club football in Saudi Arabia. And yet, according to Giroud, he remains one of the most important figures in Didier Deschamps’ squad.

The engine that keeps running

Giroud described Kante’s mentality as “contagious,” which is the polite way of saying the midfielder makes everyone around him work harder simply by existing.

Kante was central to France’s 2018 World Cup triumph, the tireless midfield presence who covered every blade of grass while more glamorous teammates grabbed the headlines.

Then came the setback. Kante missed the 2022 World Cup final due to injury, a significant absence that France felt deeply as they fell to Argentina on penalties.

His return to international duty for Euro 2024 was something of a statement. Despite the move to Saudi Arabia, despite the age, despite the time away, Kante slotted back into the French setup as if he’d never left. Deschamps clearly trusts him, and Giroud’s comments suggest the players feel the same way.

Blending old guard with new blood

France’s approach to the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, involves a delicate balancing act. The squad needs to integrate emerging talents like Kylian Mbappe with seasoned veterans who know what it takes to win at the highest level.

Giroud’s comments also carry weight because of his own trajectory. That he sees Kante as still vital, not as a legacy pick or a sentimental inclusion, says something meaningful about the midfielder’s current level.

What this means for France’s World Cup campaign

France enters the 2026 cycle as one of the favorites. They won it all in 2018. They came agonizingly close in 2022. Deschamps has historically favored pragmatism over flair, building teams that are difficult to beat rather than teams that dazzle. Kante is the embodiment of that philosophy.

The risk, of course, is age. At approximately 35 by the time the tournament kicks off, Kante will be operating in the zone where physical decline can arrive suddenly rather than gradually. Saudi Arabia’s league, while improving, doesn’t provide the same week-in, week-out intensity as Europe’s top competitions.

But Deschamps has shown he’s willing to bet on players he trusts over players who might look better on paper. Kante has earned that trust over nearly a decade of international service, through a World Cup win, through injury, through a move that many interpreted as a step toward retirement.