Olise vaults into Ballon d’Or debate after World Cup masterclass
Bayern Munich winger’s Senegal demolition sparks French legend comparisons and Ballon d’Or chatter at 22.
Michael Olise has vaulted into Ballon d’Or contention after a man-of-the-match display for France against Senegal at the 2026 World Cup. The Bayern Munich winger, aged 22, produced a technical masterclass under pressure in the Round of 16 tie, drawing immediate comparisons to Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini from former France captain Patrick Vieira. Vieira’s public endorsement placed Olise squarely in the pantheon of French football legends and ignited French media speculation about a future Ballon d’Or tilt.
