Ng’olo Kante is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive midfielders of his time, but was Victor Wanyama actually better in the 2016/2017 season when both players were in their primes?
The careers of Victor Wanyama and N’Golo Kanté have long been the subject of debate among football enthusiasts.
Both midfielders carved out stellar reputations in the Premier League, excelling in defensive roles for Tottenham and Chelsea respectively.
However, determining who was the superior player requires a deep dive into their playing styles, club careers, international achievements, and, most intriguingly, their performances in the 2016/17 season when both were at their peak.
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Styles of play
Wanyama and Kanté were both defensive midfield powerhouses, but their approaches to the game were distinctly different.
Wanyama, standing at 1.88 meters, was a physically imposing enforcer. His aerial dominance, ability to break up play, and powerful tackling made him a vital shield for his defense.
He was also adept at distributing the ball, with an impressive passing range that allowed his team to transition from defense to attack effectively.
Kanté, on the other hand, built his legacy on relentless energy, positional awareness, and an unmatched work ethic.
At 1.68 meters, he compensated for his lack of height with incredible stamina, quick recoveries, and elite-level interceptions. His ability to cover almost every blade of grass made him a more dynamic presence, influencing games on both ends of the pitch.
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Club careers
Wanyama rose to prominence at Celtic, winning two Scottish Premiership titles and famously scoring against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.
His move to Southampton made him the first Kenyan to play in the Premier League, and his subsequent transfer to Tottenham saw him play a pivotal role in their 2016/17 campaign, where Spurs finished second.
However, injuries hampered his progress, leading to an early decline in his career.
Kanté’s rise was nothing short of meteoric. After leading Leicester City to a historic Premier League triumph in 2015/16, he moved to Chelsea, where he won another league title, along with the FA Cup, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Champions League.
His performances in key matches, particularly during Chelsea’s 2020/21 Champions League-winning campaign, solidified his status as one of the best midfielders of his generation.
International Careers
Wanyama was the face of Kenyan football for over a decade, captaining the Harambee Stars and leading them to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 15-year absence. However, Kenya’s struggles on the international stage limited his opportunities to shine in major tournaments.
Kanté, in contrast, was a key figure in France’s 2018 World Cup-winning team. Forming a formidable midfield duo with Paul Pogba, his contributions throughout the tournament were instrumental in securing football’s most prestigious trophy.
This global success places him on a different pedestal compared to Wanyama.
2016/2017 -Who was better?
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Was Ex-Harambee Stars & Tottenham star Victor Wanyama actually better than Ng’olo Kante ?
If there was ever a season to compare Wanyama and Kanté directly, it was 2016/17. Kanté, playing alongside Nemanja Matić at Chelsea, helped Antonio Conte’s side win the Premier League in a season that cemented the 3-4-3 formation as a tactical masterstroke.
Wanyama, meanwhile, partnered Mousa Dembélé in Tottenham’s 4-2-3-1 setup, playing a crucial role in their impressive second-place finish.
According to data from analytics company Squawka, Kanté outperformed Wanyama in seven out of ten key metrics, while the Kenyan midfielder was superior in three.
Wanyama had an edge in aerial duels, winning 50.91% compared to Kanté’s 40%. His long-passing ability was also superior, completing 3.5 long passes per 90 minutes with a 70.91% accuracy rate, while Kanté managed only 1.9 long passes per game at a 55.75% accuracy.
Forward passes were nearly identical, with Kanté averaging 15.4 per game compared to Wanyama’s 15.3.
Despite Wanyama’s statistical superiority in these areas, Kanté’s overall influence, ability to dictate play, and relentless pressing gave him the upper hand in shaping Chelsea’s title-winning campaign. Kanté was awarded the PFA Player of the Year award that season, a testament to his dominance in midfield.
Verdict: Who was the better midfielder?
While Victor Wanyama was an elite defensive midfielder who put Kenyan football on the global map, N’Golo Kanté’s achievements at both club and international levels place him in a different category.
His impact in multiple title-winning campaigns, Champions League triumph, and World Cup victory make him one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
However, in the 2016/17 season, Wanyama was arguably just as crucial for Tottenham as Kanté was for Chelsea.
His dominance in key metrics, particularly in aerial battles and long passing, demonstrated his importance to Spurs’ midfield. While Kanté’s all-around influence and accolades give him the ultimate edge in career comparison, Wanyama’s brilliance during that season should not be overlooked.
Both players excelled in their own right, but Kanté’s unparalleled consistency and trophy-laden career cement his legacy as the superior midfielder overall.
