By our reporter 1.7.2026
Former Bayern Munich left back and currently managing Georgia, Willy Sagnol has tipped French star Michael Olise to win the highest football honour following his outstanding performance with the French team so far at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Olise is the engine room of the Les Bleus as they cruise to five-star performances in all their games so far in the tournament and establishing themselves as favourites for the title.
They beat Sweden 3-0 on Tuesday with Olise assisting the two goals. France that made it four wins, and 13 goals scored, so far at the tournament as they eased through to a last-16 tie against Paraguay.
“Olise is a team player, not an individualist. For our children, there is finally a great role model. He doesn’t care if he scores or assists, he always thinks about what helps the team.
“Zidane was the same. Messi and Cristiano, who dominated the last 15 years, play a bit more for themselves and their statistics. Nothing against them, they are enormous. But Olise is a true team player,” Sangol told BILD in an interview.
Sagnol noted that if the 24-year-old winger fails to win the Ballon d’Or at the end of the season, it will be the height of injustice.
“Olise is the best in the world, far ahead of everyone else. If he doesn’t win the Ballon d’Or at the end of the year, something is seriously wrong with football.”
Olise a former Chelsea academy player initially emerged at Reading before joining Crystal Palace in 2021.
He made his name in the Premier League while in South London, where he got his debut under Patrick Vieira — a World Cup winner with France in 1998.
Vieira described him to L’Equipe as “a future Ballon d’Or winner” — maybe even this year if he keeps playing like this at the World Cup.
Former Chelsea coach Graham Potter who is managing Sweden at the World Cup added: “You could see the type of player he is, his ability.
“I think players’ journeys sometimes; they’re not quite straight lines. Whereas with him, you could see that he was just ready to go.”