Olise Closes in on Pelé's World Cup Assist Record Ahead of Morocco Clash

Last Updated on July 9, 2026

France’s Michael Olise leads the 2026 World Cup with five assists — the first player since Thomas Häßler in 1994 to reach that mark — and targets Pelé’s record of six against Morocco on Thursday. A Danish referee fires back at match-fixing claims over Egypt vs Argentina.

Olise Outshines Mbappé as France’s Quiet World Cup Catalyst

Thierry Henry has made his view plain: France’s most important player at the 2026 World Cup is not Kylian Mbappé — it is Michael Olise. "The MVP will always be Kylian, because Kylian puts up numbers nobody else can match. But the most important player is Michael Olise. That kid is from another planet," Henry said.

The 24-year-old Bayern Munich winger arrives at Thursday’s quarter-final against Morocco — kick-off 22:00 — with five World Cup assists, the first player to reach that total at a single tournament since Germany’s Thomas Häßler in 1994. One more against Morocco would see Olise equal Pelé’s all-time record of six assists at a single World Cup, set by the Brazilian legend at the 1970 tournament. Olise has not yet scored, though he came agonisingly close with a perfectly-timed overhead kick that struck the post — a moment many regard as nearly the goal of the tournament. With the World Cup quarter-final kicking off at 22:00, our Bitcoin betting guide covers the top-rated crypto sportsbooks for wagering on the tournament.

At club level, his numbers at Bayern Munich paint the picture of a complete attacker: 42 goals and 54 assists in 107 appearances since his €60 million move to the Bundesliga. At this World Cup alone, Olise has covered 41 kilometres — more ground than any other player in the French squad — prompting L’Équipe to run the headline "A physical monster behind the artist." His former Crystal Palace coach Patrick Vieira compares his potential to Zinédine Zidane: "He has that creativity, that refinement, that efficiency." Patrice Evra adds: "I love his nonchalance. Some see that and think he’s too lax. I see calmness and control. The very best players make difficult things look easy."

Off the pitch, Olise operates in deliberate obscurity. He holds no brand deals, selects his own boots, and recently deleted every post from his 8.6 million-follower Instagram account before replacing them with grainy images shot from a television screen — an apparent gesture of solidarity with sports photographers denied accreditation at this World Cup. Midfielder Rayan Cherki shared footage of the French squad dining together; Olise sat alone, head bowed over his plate. Didier Deschamps describes him as introverted; Mbappé calls him "very atypical, especially for the football world." Olise told L’Équipe: "Football is a wonderful sport, so it should also look visually beautiful. It can be art."

Danish Referee Rejects ‘Fixed Match’ Claims Over Egypt vs Argentina

The World Cup fixture between Egypt and Argentina has sparked widespread anger, with accusations of a "fixed match" circulating widely since the final whistle. Danish Superliga referee Jonas Hansen has stepped forward to defend the officials involved, stating that the referees in the Egypt-Argentina match made correct decisions throughout.

Hansen’s rebuttal represents a direct pushback against the match-fixing narrative. His defence places the refereeing integrity of the fixture on the record and pushes back firmly against the claims that have surrounded the match.

Nübel’s Bayern Chapter Ends With Move to Beşiktaş Istanbul

Alexander Nübel, once earmarked as Manuel Neuer’s long-term successor at Bayern Munich, departs the Bundesliga club for Beşiktaş Istanbul after a tenure the club characterises as defined by communication problems and misunderstandings. Nübel spent significant stretches on loan at other clubs, unable to dislodge Neuer as the undisputed first choice. The switch to Istanbul draws a line under a chapter that never delivered on its initial promise for either party.

BVB Back Bellingham to Cement Midfield Role After Encouraging First Season

Jobe Bellingham’s debut campaign at Borussia Dortmund showed steady improvement as the season progressed, and the club’s officials now identify stabilisation in the midfield centre as his key next step. BVB plan to give him support alongside him in the engine room to facilitate that development heading into the new season.

Benitez Won’t Rule Out Scotland Job as Rangers Eye Nordic and Balkan Midfielders

Rafael Benitez, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager, has declined to rule out interest in the Scotland national team position when pressed on the vacancy, keeping his name in the frame for the role. Rangers, meanwhile, are linked with midfield targets from Norway and Serbia as the Glasgow club shapes its squad for the campaign ahead.

Also in Football

Dick Schreuder wins the Rinus Michels Award as the best coach in the Dutch Eredivisie, receiving the honour from former Netherlands manager Guus Hiddink at the National Football Coach Congress in Papendal. Schreuder, 54, guided NEC Nijmegen to a historic third-place finish in the Eredivisie in his debut season at the club — the highest placement in NEC’s history — and into Champions League qualifying. The club also reached the KNVB Cup final, where they lost 5-1 to AZ. PSV’s Peter Bosz, who won the award in each of the previous two seasons, was among the nominees. Readers who want deeper context on how Schreuder and NEC are preparing for their European campaign can find it in NEC Nijmegen Begin Champions League Prep as Dutch Club Eyes Historic European Run.

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