N’Golo Kanté wants the world to know he does not cheat at cards

The meek shall inherit the earth, the Good Book says. They don’t come any meeker than N’Golo Kante, at least not off the pitch.

Our modest, soft-spoken midfield destroyer has won our hearts — and the hearts of all of France — by walking softly and playing a big game.

His good nature and great talent moved his France World Cup-winning teammates to make a song about him. And over the weekend, as they celebrated with the trophy in front of their fans at the Stade to France, they got the whole stadium to sing it with them.

N’Golo Kante,
Pala Lalala,
He’s short, he’s nice,
He stopped Leo Messi,
But we all know he’s a cheater,
N’Golo Kante”

Ah. You might see the problem there.

N’Golo Kanté, polite as can be, does take issue with the song. In the tunnel after France beat Netherlands 2-1, Kante sought to set the record straight.

He does not, he insists, cheat at cards. He’s merely highly competitive.

“I’m not a cheat at cards. I’m a competitor and those who lose like to give others a bad rap!”

I don’t really care if he cheats at cards or not. To be honest, I wish he would.

I mean, he’s kind of perfect, you know? It’s a lot to live up to for the rest of us sinners.