The Les Bleus man cited the Chelsea defender as a cornerstone of the national team while showering extra praise on Atletico team-mate Thomas Lemar.
N'Golo Kante is a "fundamental" part of France's team because of the character he shows on the pitch, according to international team-mate Lucas Hernandez.
The Chelsea defender was an unused substitute as the World Cup winners battled to a 2-2 friendly draw at home to Iceland on Thursday, with his absence notable as the hosts struggled to Effectively nullify the visitors in midfield.
Kylian Mbappe eventually inspired a late comeback from being two goals down, with the Paris Saint-Germain star forcing a Holmar Eyjolfsson own goal and scoring a late penalty.
Kante is expected to come straight back into the starting XI for the visit of Germany in the Nations League on Tuesday, and Lucas is confident he will make a difference.
"The character he shows on the pitch, the desire he has – they make him a very important player," the Atletico Madrid defender told reporters.
"He is everywhere, he gets 15-20 balls per game – he's huge. Having a midfielder like him is a fundamental piece [of the team]."
Lucas also heaped praise on fellow Les Bleus man Thomas Lemar, who has joined him at Atletico in pre-season and appears to have adapted well to life under the infamously demanding Diego Simeone.
The 22-year-old even thinks Lemar has settled quicker than Antoine Griezmann did after joining from Real Sociedad in 2014.
"Lemar is a very great player, he has adapted very quickly to Atletico, which is not easy," Lucas added.
"Antoine had trouble early, all the big players had trouble. He concentrated and he is an indisputable starter with us.
"In the national team he is not an indisputable starter, but he is a great player. In each training session he gives the maximum, he has a very good mentality."
France’s Nations League clash against former world champions Germany is their final game of the current international break, though they face Netherlands and Uruguay next month.
Lucas and Lemar both return to Atletico, who next travel to Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday while Kante’s Chelsea host Manchester United in the Premier League.
YhungJ
1
kante is not a defender!!
che8
3
yup the best defensive midfielder in the world
Somdeiklms
0
He should retire at Chelsea
nah psg january an hazard rel want them all gone lol
Jotbdemory
2
man of action #@our cante
adamdon
0
i luv dis man ngolo kante such a humble player ever i c
Natdklmoy
7
Pocho1
3
he was the unsung hero in my opinion. what a player. he was solid for France
Yorokiri
1
still smiling on the bench, a wonderful human being
Zawainpru
1
He should retire at Chelsea
dupacdikn
2
good luck
Anthonypaul666
1
kante should go to PSG
rossouw10
2
what a quality
RajputHitesh7
0
you can't compare griezman to kante because they play in different positions
Im not comparing them its about performance kante is the key for them because he easily dethrone opponents and its not easy to get the ball from him.
swagchicken
3
Kante is one of the beat. he is important to any team he plays on
teabikru
2
I didn't know why kante didn't get appreciation as any other players he is best player at worldcup cup along with modric & hazard . He is far more better than griezman & pogba but he is little bit underrated.
you can't compare griezman to kante because they play in different positions
RajputHitesh7
1
I didn't know why kante didn't get appreciation as any other players he is best player at worldcup cup along with modric & hazard . He is far more better than griezman & pogba but he is little bit underrated.
YomiteYomas
1
"The Chelsea defender was an unused substitute as the World Cup winners battled to a 2-2 friendly draw at home to Iceland on Thursday, with his absence notable as the hosts struggled to Effectively nullify the visitors in midfield." so ngolo is now a defender isn't it?? AF just tell us u want to convert the young man into a defender as u not only called him that once but twice.
atlanz
0
crucial...? , he is de most valuable asset u guys have i mean u guys wudnot evn have smelled wc glory widout him
Peterjerry
0
kante one of the best mid fielder in the world. GOOD LUCK