France's Most Underrated Player! Crowned 2026 World Cup Assist King, Both Premier League and England Regret Letting Him Go

France is dominating the 2026 World Cup and is widely regarded as the team with the strongest 'championship potential.' Their strength this tournament isn't just due to the ever-prolific Kylian Mbappe or Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, but also because of Michael Olisé, whose legs seem to perform magic on the pitch.

Unlike standout stars such as Messi, Mbappe, Haaland, Bellingham, and Harry Kane, Olise continues to quietly work behind the scenes. This shy, almost socially anxious young man was labeled a 'troublemaker' by clubs due to his introverted personality in childhood. Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City all abandoned him. Not being trained in a major club's youth system meant that despite growing up in England, he was never scouted by England's national teams. Ultimately, he chose to wear the French national team jersey.

French legend Thierry Henry holds Olise in high regard, consistently stating since before the tournament: 'Kylian (Mbappe) will obviously be the MVP, but the most important player for France is Michael (Olise).' The 24-year-old has proven his mentor right with his performances on the pitch.

Mbappe remains one of the world's most threatening attackers, and rising star Olise has delivered an impressive performance in his first World Cup. (Photo / AP)

The Key Man Behind Mbappe and Dembélé — The Low-Key Assist King Olise

Romantic and free-spirited, the French have always produced creative footballers and unexpected magicians on the pitch—from Platini in the 80s, to Cantona and Ginola in the 90s, and Zidane, who led the Gallic rooster to the world summit. Even as traditional number 10s find less space, France continues to produce talents. In 1998, captain Deschamps beside Zidane was a defensive midfielder. Twenty years later, as coach, he led the team to victory with a midfield trio of more workmanlike players: Kanté, Pogba, and Matuidi. While Pogba had offensive flair, he wasn't a classic attacking midfielder.

This French team's lack of connection in the attacking midfield was partially corrected by slightly dropping forward Antoine Griezmann. Three and a half years ago in Qatar, Deschamps even positioned him one step deeper, successfully reaching the final for two consecutive tournaments. This time, without Griezmann, France's attack has improved further, thanks to the emergence of a true number 10—Michael Olise.

In his World Cup debut, Olise hasn't scored yet and remains less noticed than his two frontline partners. However, he has already delivered 5 assists, just one shy of matching Pelé's single-tournament assist record from the 1970 World Cup.

Bayern's Official Media 'Escape Failure' Goes Viral

Extremely Shy to the Point of Social Anxiety

Why isn't such a talented player the center of media attention? It might stem from a 'failed escape' incident with Bayern Munich's official media. Introverted off the pitch, Olise avoids the spotlight and media interviews whenever possible. But club media is unavoidable. After one match, as he walked back to the locker room with teammate Musiala, he spotted the club's camera and immediately turned back and crouched down to avoid it. Staff didn't let him go, dragging him—along with Musiala—for an interview. Olise remained completely silent, standing beside Musiala while his teammate answered all questions.

No one remembers what the interview was about, but Olise's childlike, shy reaction made him a viral sensation. The 'socially anxious kid' image stuck, prompting fans to dig up his old post-match interviews from his Crystal Palace days in the Premier League, where he answered nearly every question with a single word—once again going viral. And when Bayern released a promotional video urging fans to attend their upcoming Hong Kong tour, Olise's barely audible, 'mosquito-like' voice brought smiles once more.

A Sporting Genius Eligible for Four National Teams

Today, Olise is a key player for both Bayern and the French national team. His 'cute contrast' between extreme shyness off the pitch and brilliance on it is endearing. But his painful past—being repeatedly rejected by major clubs due to his quiet nature—is no laughing matter.

Born in London, Olise's father Vincent is a Nigerian-British man, and his mother Mina is an Algerian-French woman. He grew up speaking both English and French at home and feels connected to four nations. 'I have ties to all my countries. I grew up in London, and we regularly visit Algeria, Nigeria, and France. At home, my dad always speaks English to me, and my mom speaks French.'

This diverse cultural background shaped his unique personality, but his football talent was undeniable. At age 6, he began training at Hayes & Yeading, a small local club. A reporter from The Athletic tracked down his former coach, Michael Richards, who said young Olise's football intelligence surpassed his peers by three to five years, describing him as 'watching a figure skater play football.'

'Personality Issues' Led to Rejection by Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City

Olise's athletic talent wasn't limited to football. At Dr. Triplett's CE Primary School, he was the star of the track team, excelling in everything from 400 meters to cross-country, as well as cricket, table tennis, and even static games like chess. When opposing schools saw him, they'd sigh, 'What bad luck.' Such a gifted athlete was naturally scouted by major clubs. But his development within club systems took a different turn.

After brief training at Arsenal's academy, he joined Chelsea's youth setup at age 7 and stayed for seven years. Coaches saw his talent, but he occasionally refused training, sitting silently on the sidelines. He was overly obsessed with wearing the number 10 jersey, often putting it on before the coach announced the lineup. His disobedience and refusal to conform, combined with his extreme shyness, made him a 'troublemaker' in the eyes of coaching staff, leading to his release at age 14. He then moved to Manchester City's youth team, only to face the same fate at age 16.

Why England Missed This Gem

It wasn't just the Premier League giants who mistreated him—England's national teams never considered calling him up. When his football dream seemed to vanish, Reading FC, a small London club, gave him a chance, accepting him without questioning his past. Within two years, Olise won the Championship's Best Young Player award. But because he wasn't from a traditional powerhouse club, England didn't consider selecting him for their youth teams.

France seized the opportunity, calling him up to their U18 team in 2019. Later, he was spotted by Crystal Palace, a London club known for 'finding hidden gems' in the Premier League. As he gradually became a club regular, even if England regretted not calling him, Olise had already lost faith in his birthplace and decided to continue wearing France's jersey.

Henry: 'Olise Is the Most Important Player in the French Squad'

Being rejected by major clubs didn't break his spirit. On his right calf, he has a tattoo of the Chinese characters for 'improvement,' reminding himself to strive daily. Thierry Henry, a legend for both France and Arsenal, is not only his idol but also his coach with the French U23 team. The usually stern Henry's eyes light up when talking about his protégé: 'Michael is a monster. His view of football and the world is completely different, and so perfectly executed. It's an honor to coach him.' He joked that during training, seeing what Olise does, he has to hold back from shouting 'Wow!' and declared: 'I've been saying since before the tournament: Kylian (Mbappe) will be the MVP, but the most important player for France is Michael (Olise).'

The summer of 2024 was a turning point in Olise's career. He joined Bayern in early July, then represented France U23 under Henry's leadership at the Olympics, winning a silver medal. A month later, he received his first senior national team call-up. In just two years, his career skyrocketed—107 appearances for Bayern, scoring 42 goals and providing 46 assists, 'monster-level' stats. The once-rejected youth player now earns a weekly salary of €260,000 at Bayern. To keep him, the club plans to offer a new four-year contract doubling his pay. This summer, he has become the perfect partner behind Mbappe and Dembélé for the national team.

Though he rarely gives interviews, in a recent interview with L'Équipe, he expressed his longing for the joy of playing football freely. Perhaps his decision to choose France was the right one. As football becomes increasingly tactical and collective, with traditional number 10s nearing extinction, seeing a graceful, flamboyant attacking midfielder like Olise dominate the biggest stages is truly a delight.

(Reprinted with permission from Hong Kong 01, original title: World Cup Profile | France's Shy Genius Olise, Once Rejected by Three Major Clubs and Overlooked by England)

Editorial Responsibility / Lin Li