WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

I played (at Chelsea) with Claude Makelele who I thought was the best until I saw this kid. He's got Makelele plus extras. In the same way a striker's got that instinct in front of goal, he's got that in midfield. (City's Ilkay) Gundogan, (Bernardo) Silva and (Phil) Foden couldn't read it, Kante was just on it.

—JOE COLE, Former England midfielder

He may turn out to be one of the top three in the world. It's hard for a defensive midfielder to win a Ballon d'Or. But it will be deserved. —RAMIRES, Former Chelsea and Brazil medio

We have seen a man who is above everybody else.

—ARSENE WENGER, Former Arsenal manager