Who is Michael Olise – Mbappé’s wingman, as French captain chases Messi’s goal count

ALSO READ | Mbappé approaching Messi’s 18-goal record in World Cup’s leaderboard charge

The reason Mbappé and Olise have hit it off so quickly is because his left foot on the right flank works out angles, strikes rotating acceleration with such rhythm that Mbappé is receiving deliveries at his footstep. Like a norden bombsight of an ancient bombardier, Olise has been gauging movement around the box, mapping his teammates’ likely pathways and using his creative vision to open supply lines and pave the path for the captain.

There was grumpiness from English shores when Olise chose to play for France. He grew up in London, born to a Nigerian-English father and Franco-Algerian mother. “I possess four parts of each of these countries. All four parts enrich me,” he has maintained.

Michael Olise, left, and Kylian Mbappe celebrate after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Group I match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Explaining why he picked France, he said, “I always had a connection with the French national team. It was a childhood dream to play for them given I spent a lot of holidays at my mother’s home,” he explained.

His brother still plays for Chelsea, while Michael went over to Bayern Munich, after a fruitful stint at Crystal Palace, where besides becoming the youngest goal-scorer at the club, he showed a flair and generosity for rustling up the most assists in a single season – 10.

As such, Olise is a perfect fit in this multi-cultural, multi-inspired French team. He might not have grown up in the urban marginalised banlieues of Paris, but besides the blended nationalities in his genes, Olise was also shaped by several impressive influences. Youth stints at Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City coincided with his long-distance stargazing of French greats Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry. He was simultaneously enchanted by the trick-dribbles of Neymar and how he sizzled with pace moving up field.

But at 18, Olise had no doubts about who he wanted to turn out for – he would slot into the 2024 Paris Olympics home squad finishing with a silver. A senior call-up from Didier Deschamps was on the horizon, and he would link up with Mbappé right away, lending France the creative coherence from his right half position.

ALSO READ | Record-breaking Lionel Messi’s longevity is truly remarkable

Half of Mbappé’s praise for Olise after the Senegal-win was him chuckling about how the press would never be able to demystify him because he abhorred speaking to the media. It’s earned him the very French nickname Mr Nonchalant, which amused Mbappé very much.

As the French attack circled their defensive wall forming a rhythmic ring of short passes to break the Iraqi shape on Monday, Olise was the obvious orchestra conductor. That he revels in lying back and supplying bespoke passes works perfectly for the French strikers and Mbappé specifically. Him and Dembele can create chances and destroy defenses, even before Doue and Cherki fetch up.

His braided ponytail bouncing about doesn’t always come into the frame when a goal is scored. But Olise in a rare interview to Bayern had talked of his fashion interests. “One thing I’m going to enjoy about France is fashion. I’m someone who will dress up smartly even if I’m stepping out to buy bread!” he jokes. Eats and leaves no crumbs either, this Michael.