As two-time World Cup champion France prepares to kick off its pre-tournament friendly campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey, a surprise star is stepping into the spotlight to lead Les Bleus’ attacking line, outshining even the sport’s biggest names ahead of the global competition.
Unlike high-profile superstars Kylian Mbappé and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, 24-year-old Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise carries a quiet, unassuming demeanor — but his on-pitch impact has been anything but understated. He enters the World Cup in red-hot form, fresh off a stunning hat trick against Northern Ireland that pushed his senior international goal tally to seven across just 17 appearances for France.
In a recent tune-up match where Didier Deschamps fielded his full first-choice attacking unit featuring Mbappé, Dembélé and breakout young talent Désiré Doué, it was Olise who emerged as the standout performer. Deschamps heaped praise on the in-form winger following the match, highlighting both his clinical finishing and relentless work ethic that have made him an invaluable member of the squad.
“He’s been shining brightly this season at Bayern and he’s done great things for us. He’s brimming with confidence, he’s so decisive,” Deschamps said of Olise. “On top of that, as an attacking player he also has a remarkable capacity for hard work.”
Olise’s signature attacking move — a sharp, sudden cut inside from the right flank followed by a curled effort on goal — proved deadly against Northern Ireland. After burying two close-range finishes inside the penalty box, he cut inside from his wing, changed direction with his trademark blistering speed, and bent a sublime strike into the top-left corner of the net. This deft, rapid skill has become his calling card, and it helped him net 22 goals for Bayern Munich during the 2025-26 domestic season.
Deschamps first noticed Olise’s elite potential during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where Olise played under French and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry for France’s Olympic squad. Olise notched two goals and five assists throughout the tournament, leading Les Bleus to the Olympic final and cementing his status as a player worth promoting to the senior national side.
For Olise, the Paris Games remain a career-defining experience. “It was the best football experience of my life, because it allowed people to get to know me,” he said, crediting Henry for shaping his understanding of the game and helping him unlock his potential at the international level.
Despite his rapid success, Olise’s reserved personality initially slowed his adjustment to the senior national team, according to Deschamps. The France manager noted it took four or five matches for the shy winger to settle in and show his true quality on the pitch.
“He’s not a very expressive character. He’s rather introverted, but he’s very endearing,” Deschamps added.
Olise’s first senior international goal — a perfectly bent free kick into the top corner against Croatia in the 2025 Nations League — gave a clear preview of the clinical skill he would bring to the squad. His journey to the top of international football is also an underdog story: born in London, he was released by both Chelsea and Manchester City in his youth before launching his professional career with EFL Championship side Reading. He earned the league’s Young Player of the Season award during his time with Reading, earning a transfer to Premier League side Crystal Palace in 2021. Three impressive seasons at Palace convinced Bayern Munich to sign him for a 60 million euro ($65 million) transfer, and he has thrived at the German giant, scoring 42 goals in 103 appearances across all competitions while adding consistent goal-scoring to his already elite passing range.
Olise’s match-winning performance against Northern Ireland also drew attention to a recent slump in form for France’s star man Kylian Mbappé, who failed to score for the second consecutive friendly after a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast last Thursday. Deschamps acknowledged that Mbappé squandered multiple clear chances and was far from his clinical best, but played down any concerns about the forward’s form ahead of the World Cup.
“It’s true that he had several chances and wasn’t efficient,” Deschamps said. When asked about Mbappè’s dry spell, the manager joked, “He told me he’s holding back for the United States. So that suits me.”
Mbappé currently sits on 56 international goals for France, just two strikes away from breaking Olivier Giroud’s all-time senior goal record for the national team, a milestone he is widely expected to hit during the World Cup tournament in North America.