As France prepare for their last-16 tie against Paraguay, Michael Olise has already written his name into World Cup history: the first player to assist five goals at a single tournament since Germany's Thomas Hassler in 1994.
The 24-year-old Bayern Munich forward, who came through Reading and Crystal Palace, is not your typical footballer. Born and raised in London to a French-Algerian mother, Mina, and a Nigerian father, Vincent, he represents France. This season he amassed 25 goals and 28 assists for the Bundesliga champions.
“Olise is first since 1994 to assist five goals in one World Cup, but shuns the limelight.”
Olise usually shuns the spotlight, loves chess, barely celebrates goals and avoids interviews. He does not have a deal with any sportswear or boot companies. Those who have known him since childhood say his reserved nature should not be seen as arrogance – it's just "Michael being Michael".
Daniel Coker, his sports teacher at Dr Triplett's CE Primary School in Hayes, London, recalled: "The sports coaches came to me one day and said have you seen this boy... in year two? When I saw him play...I knew that he was going to be something special."
Coker added: "Michael was a quiet and shy boy. He gave so many assists to our team, he'd score loads of goals, but he didn't used to celebrate, he just used to get back straight in and want to go again. He's not one of those ones to dwell on it and take that moment in. He didn't like the limelight. So when I see that on camera now, when he doesn't celebrate or he runs back, it's just what he's always done."
Headteacher Rachel Anderson remembers it being hard to get Olise back into class after football, particularly if his team hadn't won. "He would be still kicking the ball around the classroom and it would be like, 'Come on Michael, it's enough now'," she said. "I think other schools used to sigh and look quite depressed when we turned up with Michael on our team for so many things [different sports] because they knew they didn't stand much of a chance. He was a perfectionist and over-analysed everything…"
Now, as he takes the world stage, that reluctance to bask in glory may be tested. But if his past is any guide, Olise will simply get back to work, assist in hand, letting his football do the talking.