N’golo Kante turned up late for France training during the international break – but avoided being punished by manager Didier Deschamps.
The Chelsea midfielder was held up due to an issue with his train, which was 42 minutes late.
He was unable to join-up with his teammates at Les Bleus’ Clairefontaine training base at the assigned time due to the delay.
But his status as among the nicest and most humble players in professional football helped him swerve what might have been a stern punishment from his superiors.
Upon eventually showing up nearly three-quarters-of-an-hour after his scheduled arrival time, Kante attempted to explain himself to Deschamps and his coaching team with a cheeky grin spread across his face.
But instead of reading the riot act, the coach merely joked: “But N’Golo, you are faster than the train.”
Upon moving to Stamford Bridge, Kante had to be urged into buying a car to travel to training – having initially stated his desire to run to the club’s Cobham training centre.
Instead of purchasing a flash sports car, he went for a second hand Mini Cooper S which he continues to drive.
In September, after missing his Eurostar back to his homeland, a stranded Kante accepted an invitation to dinner from a supporter following the 4-1 Premier League win over Cardiff.
Having found a mosque to perform his evening prayers he was shepherded back to the house of a fan where he ate rice and curry and watched himself on Match of the Day.
Twitter user @jahrul999 described him as the “true definition of being humble” during the exchange.
AbzzyRahman added: “When your friend’s younger brother meets Kanté in the mosque for evening prayers and invites him over for dinner. What a humble person Kanté is.