Michael Olise Is Stealing the Show at the World Cup – Even Without a Goal
Michael Olise may not have found the net yet at the 2026 World Cup, but the Bayern Munich forward is fast becoming one of the tournament’s most talked-about players. According to The Guardian, the London-born 24-year-old collected two more assists as France dismantled Sweden to progress to the last 16, taking his tally to five assists from four group-stage appearances.
The French press was effusive in its praise after the Sweden match. Le Figaro described Olise as “an artist who has captured hearts”, while Le Parisien dubbed him the “official distributor of happiness” and L’Équipe called him the “universal donor” in recognition of his selfless, creative play. It is a remarkable reception for a player who, by all accounts, keeps a low profile and is still growing into the French language.
Olise joined the France setup in 2024 through Thierry Henry’s Olympic squad in Paris. Since then, he has cemented himself as the primary creative force in what is becoming one of the most fluid attacking units at any recent World Cup. A poll taken during the group stage had a quarter of respondents naming him France’s best player – no small feat in a squad containing Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé, as ever, was central to France’s win over Sweden. The captain netted twice, pushing his World Cup record to 18 goals in 18 games. Yet it was Olise’s two defence-splitting through balls, both carved from seemingly impossible angles, that drew the loudest applause. He also struck the base of the post with a bicycle kick, prompting Mbappé to note that “these are the kinds of moves that fans come to the stadium for”.
France manager Didier Deschamps has placed Olise in the same category as Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in terms of quality, while also praising his willingness to track back and contribute defensively. “When Michael is on the ball, a lot of things can happen,” Deschamps said.
With nine assists, Lionel Messi holds the all-time World Cup record. Olise has five in four games, though it is worth tempering expectations – the knockout rounds typically produce tighter contests. Still, if France continue their progress through the tournament, he will have plenty of opportunities to keep climbing that list.
For bettors tracking France’s fortunes, keep an eye on our World Cup 2026 hub and the latest live standings as the knockout phase gets under way.