Clichy Says Olise Can Shine at the 2026 World Cup

Former France player Gaël Clichy thinks Michael Olise has what it takes to be France’s standout star at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Olise is heading into his first World Cup with high hopes after proving himself as one of the most exciting attacking players in Europe.

The Bayern Munich forward has become a key player for both his club and the national team, but Clichy believes the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico could take him to new heights.

As reported by BBC Sport on Monday, Clichy compared Olise to Kylian Mbappé, who broke out during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He believes Olise can make a name for himself on football’s biggest stage.

“We knew Mbappé was a special talent before 2018, but that World Cup was when he truly arrived,” Clichy said. “I hope Michael can do something similar this summer.”

Even though Olise is already gaining attention from his performances for Bayern Munich in the Champions League, he is still relatively new to the France senior team. The 24-year-old has played just 16 times for Les Bleus and is getting ready for his first major international tournament.

Clichy worked closely with Olise during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he was assistant coach to Thierry Henry for France’s Under-23 team. France made it to the final and won a silver medal, with Olise playing an important role throughout the event.

The former Arsenal and Manchester City defender believes Olise has improved a lot since moving from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich and is now ready to show his skills to the world.

“I know how good he is and what a top person he is as well,” Clichy said. “If he brings the same level he has shown for Bayern Munich, then people will see he is one of the very best players France has.”

Clichy also mentioned Rayan Cherki as another player who could make a big impact. Like Olise, Cherki was part of France’s Olympic team in Paris and is continuing to rise at the club level.

“He’s an incredible talent,” Clichy said about Cherki. “He has so much creative quality with both feet and never looks uncomfortable on the ball.”

With stars like Mbappé leading the team and young talents like Olise and Cherki pushing for more attention, France will be among the favorites to challenge for World Cup glory in 2026.