Kylian Mbappé needed an instant of genius from Michael Olise to unlock a game that started in a jam for France. A millimetric vertical pass from Bayern's new signing took the Bleus captain into the face of Edouard Mendy to pave the way for a 3-1 victory over Senegal, at the MetLife Stadium, in New York, a victory that launches the Gallic candidacy in Group I of the 2026 World Cup.
The first goal allowed Mbappé to equal Olivier Giroud as the French team's all-time top scorer, but the striker didn't stop there. In the second half, a powerful long-range shot gave him the double and placed him alone at the top of France's all-time scorers (58), also surpassing Just Fontaine (13) as the Frenchman with the most goals in the final stages of World Cups. At this pace, Miroslav Klose's record (16) is within reach in the coming weeks.
The display, however, was anything but linear. According to Opta, France scored just one shot in the first half — a historic minimum for Bleus in a group stage since 1966. The response arrived after the break and was signed by Olise: sprints breaking lines, changes of speed and the vision of the game dictating the offensive cadence.
Just before 1-0, Olise had already drifted to the right, linked up with Jules Koundé and read the movements in the final third. Then the trick was born: a guided pass to unmark Mbappé, who just deflected the ball enough to beat Mendy. The chemistry between the two was felt again moments later, with Olise attracting pressure in the middle and releasing another sugary ball into space. The French avalanche also ended up yielding a goal from Bradley Barcola, scorer of the French team's second goal, before Mbappé sealed the score. Senegal still reduced, making the final 3-1.
In the midst of a squad full of experience, with Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué completing a mobile offensive quartet, Olise stood out categorically and was named Player of the Game. His reading between the lines — often appearing between Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba to start construction — and his ability to resist physical contact elevate France to a level that promises to make a mark in the competition.
Thierry Henry, French Olympic coach who knows him well, was adamant: "That's what he [Michael Olise] does without the ball, he's a dream for any coach. He doesn't play the game, he thinks the game; he can play in many positions. You don't need to change the team to adapt to him, he fits in. Of course he has [the potential to be the best in the world]".
Tactically, Didier Deschamps' France benefited from the positional freedom of its front quartet to dismantle both low blocks and transitions. If the opponents stretch, Olise strikes with a counterattack; if they retreat, they find impossible passing lines. His hunger for numbers in the final third remains unstoppable, having racked up 27 assists last season.
In New York, there was a feeling that the Olise–Mbappé partnership could become the most lethal combination of the tournament — a duo with echoes of Romário and Bebeto in 1994, even though these Bleus have a depth of luxury options. The question that follows the 3-1 against Senegal is simple: how to stop Olise in this form and, by accident, Mbappé launched to new records?