Willy Sagnol, a veteran of France’s 2006 World Cup final squad and former Bayern Munich defender, has delivered a stunning assessment of Michael Olise, declaring the Bayern Munich star the “best in the world” and a deserving candidate for the Ballon d’Or. Sagnol’s comments come as Olise helps spearhead France’s campaign at the 2026 World Cup.
Following France’s dominant 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32, which set up a Round of 16 clash against Paraguay, Sagnol was unequivocal in his praise for Olise. Speaking to Bild, the former French international left no doubt about his admiration for the young talent.
“There’s no need to talk much about him; you should simply enjoy every action he takes on the pitch,” Sagnol told Bild. “Olise is the best in the world, far ahead of all other players. If he doesn’t win the Ballon d’Or at the end of the year, something is seriously wrong with football.”
Team-first mentality praised
Sagnol highlighted Olise’s selfless approach to the game, drawing a direct comparison to his former national teammate, Zinedine Zidane. This team-first attitude, Sagnol suggested, sets Olise apart from some of the sport’s modern icons.
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“To put it bluntly, Olise couldn’t care less whether he scores or provides an assist or not,” Sagnol explained. “You can see that he’s not thinking about doing anything for himself but always looking out for what helps the team.” He added that “My former national teammate Zinedine Zidane was the same way. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have dominated world football for the last 15 years, play a bit more for themselves and their statistics.”
Sagnol also contrasted Olise with current France teammate Kylian Mbappé, noting that Mbappé is “more focused on himself, on his career, on his goals.” Despite this, Sagnol expressed “100 percent sure” that Mbappé will finish as the 2026 World Cup’s top scorer, acknowledging his undeniable sporting delivery.
Future at Bayern Munich amid Real Madrid interest
Olise’s exceptional form has not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid reportedly showing interest in the Bayern Munich player. However, Sagnol, who also played for and coached Bayern, hopes Olise will remain in Germany for the foreseeable future.
“Olise is still young and can still go to Real in a few years,” Sagnol commented to Bild. “He knows what he has in Munich: a great environment, great teammates, an excellent coach. Olise looks very happy at FC Bayern. As a former player and coach of the Munich team, I naturally hope that he stays with the record champions for a while longer.”
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Sagnol’s strong endorsement underscores Olise’s growing influence on the global stage, positioning him as a central figure for both club and country, with his World Cup performances only intensifying the spotlight on his burgeoning career. The full interview with Willy Sagnol was reported by Bild.
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