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Michael Olise created history on the biggest stage of all, yet the Bayern Munich winger was left heartbroken after France’s dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in the World Cup third-place playoff. Despite surpassing a long-standing record held by the legendary Pele, the 24-year-old could not find comfort following a series of rare missed chances in Miami.

A night of mixed emotions in Miami

According to reports from L'Equipe, the Bayern Munich star was seen in tears inside the dressing room after failing to convert two golden opportunities in the second half. France had battled back from a poor opening period to narrow the deficit to 4-3, with Olise playing a major role in their comeback. However, the London-born forward squandered two clear chances in the 75th and 81st minutes, both times missing the target when he seemed destined to score. Those missed opportunities proved crucial as France’s hopes of a late turnaround faded, and Olise’s outstanding form throughout the summer was briefly overshadowed by the frustration of what might have been.

Breaking a record held by a football legend

Despite his anguish, Olise etched his name into World Cup history during the thrilling encounter. With two assists for Kylian Mbappe, he reached a total of seven for the tournament, surpassing the record previously held by Brazilian icon Pele. The three-time World Cup champion had set the mark with six assists in the 1970 tournament in Mexico, but Olise now holds the outright record for the most assists in a single edition of the competition.

This achievement underscores his remarkable rise since joining the Bundesliga, where he has produced 42 goals and 54 assists over two seasons. Although he still trails Lionel Messi’s career World Cup total of 12 assists, Olise’s creativity has been central to France’s campaign, reflecting his commitment to team play over personal milestones.

Deschamps stands by his player

France head coach Didier Deschamps was seen consoling his emotional winger on the pitch and later revealed that he had a private discussion to encourage him. Deschamps, who has consistently supported Olise since his promotion to the senior squad, acknowledged the emotional strain following such a high-intensity match.

The manager’s backing comes at an important moment as Olise reflects on a tournament that combined personal achievement with team disappointment. France entered the competition as strong favourites, and while finishing fourth is respectable, the nature of their 6-4 defeat to England left a sense of frustration.

Transfer speculation intensifies

Despite the heartbreak in Miami, Olise’s reputation continues to soar, and his future at Bayern Munich is attracting growing interest from top European clubs. Reports indicate that the winger is “keen” to secure a move to Real Madrid, where he could reunite with international teammate Kylian Mbappe in the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is believed to view Olise as the final addition to his next “Galactico” lineup — a creative force capable of supplying the service needed to unlock the full potential of the club’s attacking stars. Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly withdrawn from contention, unwilling to meet Bayern’s high valuation, leaving Real Madrid as front-runners in the pursuit of the French playmaker.