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Michael Olise is determined to live up to the growing expectations after receiving glowing praise from France captain Kylian Mbappe, as Les Bleus continue their World Cup campaign. The Bayern Munich winger has rapidly emerged as one of Europe’s brightest football talents, earning admiration from teammates and fans alike.

Mbappe hails Olise as France’s next big star

The strong understanding between Mbappe and Olise was clearly visible in France’s opening World Cup match against Senegal, which ended in a 3-1 victory. Mbappe netted a brace, with both goals assisted by Olise. The Real Madrid forward was full of admiration for the 24-year-old, calling him a crucial part of both the present and the future of French football.

Speaking to L'Équipe, Mbappe said of his teammate: “He is the player of today and tomorrow. He has that elegance and vision in his game. I get along very well with him. These days, we speak French together. He speaks it well. Then again, he has the kind of personality that means you, the media, will probably never know whether his French is improving or not, because he doesn’t talk to you very much (laughs). He doesn’t like it; that’s just who he is. Michael is an introvert. He chooses his words carefully and sparingly. But his feet do the talking for him. Accept him as he is. He will never change. On top of being an extraordinary player, he’s also a great person.”

Olise responds to his captain’s praise

Olise, who has earned 18 caps and scored seven goals for the national team, remained humble after hearing Mbappe’s words. The response came on the back of an exceptional 2025–26 campaign with Bayern Munich, during which he appeared in 52 matches across all competitions, netting 22 goals and providing 31 assists. Despite the immense expectations that come with being endorsed by one of football’s biggest names, Olise remains focused on consistency and professional growth.

“Ah, it’s an enormous compliment. Do I agree? No. I mean that it is pleasant to hear that, especially from Kylian. When it concerns someone you play with, whom you respect and who has already accomplished so much in football, I think it is always pleasant to hear this kind of thing. For the moment, I would say that, yes, I am a player of the present. If I continue to work hard and keep my feet on the ground, then I hope to indeed become a player of the future,” Olise said in a recent interview.

Making his mark at Bayern Munich

Since moving to the Bundesliga, Olise’s growth has been remarkable. The winger joined Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024 on a five-year contract and has since delivered standout performances. His consistent form earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award for 2024–25 and the Bundesliga Player of the Season accolade for 2025–26. Known for his technical skill and precise finishing, Olise has become a pivotal figure for both club and country, his success in Germany further validating his reputation on the global stage.

Off the field, Olise maintains a reserved personality, contrasting sharply with his explosive playing style. A regular under coach Didier Deschamps, he forms part of a formidable frontline alongside Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele. Following a domestic double last season—winning both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal—Olise now has his sights set on guiding France, the 2022 runners-up, to their third World Cup title after victories in 1998 and 2018. Having also secured an Olympic silver medal in 2024, the winger is eager to lift his first major international trophy.

Olise turns focus to Iraq after Real Madrid rumours end

Reports earlier in the summer suggested that Olise was on Real Madrid’s radar, potentially linking him with Mbappe at club level. However, the Spanish club swiftly dismissed the speculation, issuing a formal statement denying any negotiations for the player. With those rumours put to rest, the Bayern Munich star is now concentrating on France’s upcoming World Cup group stage match against Iraq, as Les Bleus aim to secure another victory and confirm their place in the knockout rounds.

Can France go all the way in the World Cup?