Imagine a 24-year-old winger who has just scored a stunning hat-trick in a World Cup warm-up match, is being chased by Real Madrid for £130 million, and has a former France international calling him the breakout star of the tournament. That is Michael Olise, and this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico could be the moment he becomes a household name.
Michael Olise is a French footballer who plays as a winger for German giants Bayern Munich. Born in London to a French-Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, he came through the academy at Crystal Palace before moving to Bayern in 2024. For France, he has made 16 senior appearances, scoring four goals. His first major tournament with the senior team is the 2026 World Cup.
“Michael Olise is a Bayern Munich winger tipped to be France's breakout star at the 2026 World Cup.”
Olise’s rise has been rapid. He spent his early career in England, joining Reading’s academy, then moving to Crystal Palace in 2021. At Palace, he impressed with his dribbling, creativity and eye for goal, earning a move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024. That same year, he was part of the French under-23 squad at the Paris Olympics, where he worked with former Arsenal star Gaël Clichy, then assistant coach to Thierry Henry. France reached the final but lost to Spain. Clichy, now a pundit for BBC Sport, says Olise was already outstanding there, but the World Cup is a different stage. “I will be watching him at this World Cup as a pundit for BBC Sport and he is the player I am most looking forward to seeing play game after game at this level,” Clichy told the BBC.
For UK readers, Olise is a familiar name from his time at Crystal Palace, but he has since become a star in Germany. His performances have attracted attention from Real Madrid, who are reportedly preparing a £130 million bid, according to the Mirror. Bayern Munich’s president, Herbert Hainer, has insisted the player is not for sale. Meanwhile, Olise underlined his form with a hat-trick in France’s 3-1 friendly win over Northern Ireland on 8 June 2026, a result that sent a warning shot to other World Cup contenders, as the Standard reported.
Q: Who is Michael Olise? Michael Olise is a 24-year-old French winger who plays for Bayern Munich. He began his professional career at Reading, then moved to Crystal Palace, where his performances earned him a transfer to Bayern in 2024. He has 16 caps for France and is at his first World Cup.
Q: Why is Michael Olise considered a potential breakout star at the 2026 World Cup? Former France international Gaël Clichy, who worked with Olise at the 2024 Olympics, believes the tournament is the perfect stage for Olise to announce himself as a superstar. Olise has just scored a hat-trick in a warm-up match and is coming off a strong season at Bayern, where he has shown the same magic that made him a fan favourite at Crystal Palace.
Q: Is Michael Olise going to leave Bayern Munich for Real Madrid? Real Madrid are reportedly preparing a £130 million bid for Olise, according to the Mirror. However, Bayern Munich’s president Herbert Hainer has stated that Olise is not for sale. No transfer has been agreed, and the situation remains uncertain.
What happens next: The World Cup begins soon, and all eyes will be on Olise if he starts for France. Off the pitch, Real Madrid’s interest could intensify during or after the tournament, but Bayern are determined to keep him. For now, the focus is on whether Olise can replicate his club form on the international stage and become one of France’s very best, as Clichy predicts.