Former French national team captain Hugo Lloris has shed light on the tactical approach used against Lionel Messi during the 2018 World Cup. Head coach Didier Deschamps specifically tasked N’Golo Kante with shadowing the Argentine superstar throughout their Round of 16 encounter.
Speaking on the Rio Meets podcast with Rio Ferdinand, Lloris explained that Kante was instructed to remain within Messi’s vicinity constantly. The goal was to limit the playmaker’s influence on the match, a task for which Kante was uniquely suited due to his work rate and defensive prowess. Despite these efforts, Lloris acknowledged that containing a player of Messi’s caliber remains an immense challenge because of his ability to exploit even minor gaps in defense.
France ultimately triumphed in that match with a 4-3 victory, eventually securing the 2018 World Cup title after defeating Croatia. While Lloris has since stepped away from international football, Kante remains an active participant in the French squad during their current 2026 campaign.
