N’Golo Kante’s ‘outstanding’ performance in France’s 1-0 victory against Austria has Roy Keane and Ian Wright in awe, but Gary Neville says the 33-year-old was the ‘BEST player on the pitch’.

N’Golo Kante was praised by Roy Keane and Ian Wright for his outstanding performance in France’s opening Euro 2024 triumph, and Gary Neville called him the “best player on the pitch” against Austria.

Since choosing to leave Stamford Bridge in favor of a move to Saudi Arabia last year, the 33-year-old has mainly been absent from European football. However, on Monday, he made a spectacular return to tournament play.

Alongside Juventus playmaker Adrien Rabiot, Kante was starting in a two-man midfield, and he shone as Les Bleus got off to the ideal start in their European Championship campaign.The two-time Premier League and Champions League champion was everywhere as he dribbled with the skill for which he was known during his time playing in England’s top division, got play going forward with passes through the lines, and broke up play by holding crucial defensive positions.

Former England and Manchester United full-back Neville praised Kante’s performance and emphasized how crucial the midfield player was to France’s 2024 victory.

Rabiot just sits back and balances off, whereas he’s everywhere on the pitch as a holding midfield midfielder, according to Neville, who spoke to ITV.

He gave a terrific effort and was by far the greatest player on the field, in my opinion, tonight. He seemed to be done a few years ago, but he’s given himself another chance,’ he continued.More praise for Kante came from Neville’s old United teammate Keane, who said the midfield player looked like a “younger version” of himself who had previously excelled at Chelsea and Leicester.

Keаne gаve аn explаnаtiоn оf Kаnte’s significаnt cоntributiоn tо Frаnce’s victоry оver Rаlf Rаngnick’s teаm, sаying: “He wаs brilliаnt аnd he hаs thаt vаst experience.” аlthоugh we tаlk аbоut hоw brilliаnt he is аt breаking up the plаy, I believe thаt he is аlsо incredibly gооd аt dоing the оther pаrts.

He makes fantastic decisions and is sharp in his passing. We also know that he covers a lot of ground, but he also keeps things tidy in his passing and enjoys a little one-two. He can sprint forward, pass it forward, and tonight he seemed like a younger version of himself.

Since it’s the first game of the competition, I’ll wait to see how he handles the intensity of the matches. Before the game, I never had any doubts about him; he had a wealth of expertise, and it was great,’ he continued.Just six оutfield plаyers plаyed the entire 90 minutes, including Kаnte, аs Didier Deschаmps mаde gооd use оf his bench by substituting five times аnd shоwn mаstery аt turning defense intо аttаck.

The great Wright of Arsenal feels that Kante has benefited from playing in a lower league in the Middle East, but he was equally astounded by Kante’s return to form in a major competition.

Regarding the sums of money given to players in Saudi Arabia, Wright remarked, “He’s going to retire very comfortably.”

“He must be doing something when you come and play at that level because how is he getting to that level if you’re playing in a league where the standard isn’t as good?” he said.