France’s World Cup campaign may have ended without a podium finish, but winger Michael Olise ensured his tournament would never be forgotten by carving his name into the history books. The Bayern Munich playmaker has officially set a new FIFA World Cup record for the most assists in a single tournament, surpassing the legendary Brazilian icon Pelé.
Overtaking a Football Legend
Olise secured his historic seventh assist during France’s high-scoring 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place play-off. In doing so, the 23-year-old eclipsed Pelé’s long-standing record of six assists, which was established during Brazil’s legendary 1970 World Cup run.
A Masterclass in Playmaking
Throughout the competition, the former Crystal Palace academy graduate was the heartbeat of the French attack. Olise’s pinpoint crossing, vision, and composure made him a constant threat, forming a lethal partnership with captain Kylian Mbappé. His creative brilliance was instrumental in guiding Les Bleus to the semi-finals, where they eventually fell to Spain.
While the expanded 48-team tournament structure gave modern players more opportunities to perform, Olise’s feat remains unmatched in the annals of FIFA’s official statistics. No player has ever matched this level of creative output in a single World Cup campaign.
A Bright Future Ahead
Though France ultimately missed out on a top-three finish, Olise’s individual masterclass has solidified his reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in world football. His record-breaking achievement will stand as one of the definitive highlights of the tournament.