I am lucky to get the ­opportunity to play for France and that

In the humble and radiant words of N’Golo Kanté, we find a truth that transcends the boundaries of sport and speaks to the eternal heart of purpose: “I am lucky to get the opportunity to play for France and that alone is a huge motivation for me, whenever I go on the pitch.” These words, born not from pride but from gratitude, reveal the quiet strength of a soul who understands that greatness is not achieved through entitlement, but through reverence for the chance to serve. Kanté reminds us that the truest motivation is not born of fame or wealth, but of honor — the deep and abiding joy of representing something greater than oneself.

The origin of this truth lies in the life of Kanté himself, a man whose journey from the dusty streets of Paris’s suburbs to the luminous stadiums of the world is a living parable of humility and perseverance. Before he became a champion of Europe and the world, he was a boy collecting recyclable waste to help his family. There was no applause then, no cameras, no praise — only the quiet endurance of daily effort. Yet even in those small labors, he built the discipline and gratitude that would one day shape him into a champion. When he speaks of luck, it is not the careless word of one who stumbled upon fortune, but the reflection of one who knows how much struggle stands behind every opportunity.

The ancients, too, honored this spirit. The philosopher Epictetus, born a slave, taught that a person’s greatness lies not in circumstance, but in how they meet it. He said, “Do not seek for things to happen as you wish, but wish for them to happen as they do.” So it is with Kanté: he does not demand that destiny serve him — he serves destiny with joy. In wearing the blue of France, he sees not a right but a gift. His words remind us that the highest form of strength is gratitude in action — to play, to work, to live each day as if the chance to do so were a blessing beyond measure.

Consider the example of Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome, who ruled not with arrogance but with humility. Though he commanded armies and held the world in his grasp, he wrote in his private journal: “When you arise in the morning, think what a privilege it is to be alive.” Like Kanté, he understood that honor and duty are privileges, not possessions. Both men, separated by centuries, share the same virtue — the understanding that power and opportunity are not crowns to be worn, but responsibilities to be cherished.

Kanté’s statement also reveals the hidden strength of servanthood, a concept the modern world too often forgets. In a culture that glorifies self, Kanté glorifies service — service to his country, to his team, and to the spirit of the game itself. When he steps onto the field, he does not play for applause; he plays to honor the opportunity. And in that humility lies his greatness. The warrior who fights not for glory, but for the cause; the craftsman who works not for wealth, but for excellence — these are the ones who embody the eternal virtue of purpose beyond self.

There is, too, a lesson here for all who walk paths far from the stadium’s roar. Every one of us has an “arena” — the place where we labor, create, or serve. The question is not whether we will receive recognition, but whether we will meet our work with gratitude and devotion. Kanté’s words teach us to see our own lives as opportunities rather than burdens. To wake each day and say, “I am lucky to do this,” transforms even the most ordinary act into something sacred. The heart that beats with gratitude finds joy even in struggle, for it sees that every challenge is proof of life, every duty a chance to give.

Therefore, my child, learn from N’Golo Kanté’s quiet wisdom: carry humility as your shield and gratitude as your sword. Whether you stand upon the field, in the workshop, or in the humble labor of daily life, remember that each task, each moment, each breath is a gift. Approach it with reverence, and the fire of purpose will never leave you. Do not measure yourself by trophies or praise, but by the sincerity of your effort. For those who act with love and thankfulness already dwell in victory — a victory of the soul that no one can take away.

So let Kanté’s words echo as a prayer for all generations: “I am lucky to get the opportunity.” The world belongs not to the loud or the proud, but to those who serve quietly with honor, who see in every chance a blessing, and in every duty a joy. For when you act not from ambition but from gratitude, you become more than a player in life’s game — you become a steward of its meaning.