Former France defender Gael Clichy believes Michael Olise has the immense talent and technical quality to emerge as France’s breakout star at the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup. Olise heads into his first global tournament with growing expectations after establishing himself as one of Europe’s most exciting attacking players.
The dangerous Bayern Munich forward has become a critical figure for both club and country. Clichy believes the soccer tournament in the United States (US), Canada, and Mexico could elevate him to an entirely different level.
According to media reports released by BBC Sport, the former defender drew direct comparisons with Kylian Mbappe’s historic breakthrough campaign at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Clichy insisted that Olise has the natural ability to announce himself on football’s biggest stage this summer.
Olympic experience prepares Bayern Munich star
“We knew Mbappe was a special talent before 2018, but that World Cup was when he truly arrived,” Clichy stated during an interview. “I hope Michael can do something similar this summer.”
Although Olise is already well known through his performances for Bayern Munich in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League, he remains relatively new to the France senior team. The twenty-four-year-old winger has made only sixteen appearances for Les Bleus and is currently preparing for his first major international tournament.
Clichy worked closely with Olise during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he served as assistant coach to Thierry Henry with France’s Under-23 team. France reached the final match and won a silver medal, with Olise playing a key role throughout the entire competition.
The former Arsenal and Manchester City star believes the winger has developed significantly since his high-profile move from Crystal Palace to Germany. Clichy also highlighted fellow attacking talent Rayan Cherki as another player capable of making a major impact during the championship.
This international sports preview relies on official interviews published by BBC Sport and monitored by sports correspondents at Vanguard News.
