N'Golo Kanté vs Michael Essien
France against Ghana. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
N'Golo Kanté
France · 2012–26 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 91
- Rank in France
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 69 · 2 goals
- Clubs
- Stade Malherbe Caen, Chelsea, Al Ittihad
In Porto on 29 May 2021 he covered the whole width of Manchester City's midfield, winning the ball again and again, and left the pitch as man of the match in Chelsea's Champions League final. France's 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League head his honours, alongside that Champions League night, the 2019 Europa League, and Premier League titles with Leicester in 2016 and Chelsea a year later. Career record: 69 caps and 2 goals for France; club career at Stade Malherbe Caen, Chelsea, Al Ittihad.
Michael Essien
Ghana · 2005–12 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Ghana
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 59 · 9 goals
- Clubs
- SC Bastia, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea
Nine minutes into the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on 6 May 2009, a Barcelona clearance dropped to Essien 25 yards out and he volleyed it in off the underside of the bar. He won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, two Premier League titles and four FA Cups there, back-to-back Ligue 1 titles at Lyon, and took Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005 and BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2006. Career record: 59 caps and 9 goals for Ghana; club career at SC Bastia, Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea.
The verdict
The almanac puts N'Golo Kanté ahead by 1 rating point, 91 against 90.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.