Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise struck a stunning hat-trick as France beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up, laying a clear claim to a starting berth under Didier Deschamps. The 24-year-old, who has scored four goals in 16 senior appearances for Les Bleus, produced the performance just days before the tournament begins in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Former France international Gaël Clichy, who worked with Olise as assistant coach to Thierry Henry at the 2024 Paris Olympics, believes this can be the tournament where Olise announces himself as a superstar. "Sometimes a player just seems to have a perfect moment," Clichy told BBC Sport. "We saw it happen with Kylian Mbappe for France at the 2018 World Cup. This summer, I hope Michael Olise can do the same." Clichy, who will be a pundit for BBC Sport during the World Cup, added: "If he can take the season he has just had for Bayern, and bring his magic to the World Cup, then he will be seen as one of the very best that we have in France."
“Michael Olise scored a hat-trick for France as Real Madrid circle with £130m bid.”
Olise's brilliance has not gone unnoticed by Europe's elite. Real Madrid are reportedly plotting a £130m move for the former Crystal Palace winger after re-electing Florentino Perez as president. But Bayern chairman Herbert Hainer is adamant the player is not for sale. The speculation adds a layer of intrigue to Olise's World Cup campaign, particularly given his relative inexperience on the international stage — he has only played 16 games for France. Yet Clichy, who saw Olise up close during the Olympic run to the final, insisted: "I know how good he is, and what a top guy he is too. If he performs as well as he can do, then the team will perform well too."
With France now heading to the World Cup with a first-choice side firing, Olise's hat-trick against Northern Ireland has served as the perfect warning shot to the rest of the field. The question now is whether he can sustain that form across a tournament — and whether his club future will be decided before the final whistle.