Michael Olise Breaks Pelé’s World Cup Assist Record with Seven

French winger Michael Olise has etched his name into FIFA World Cup history, becoming the first player ever to provide seven assists in a single tournament. The Bayern Munich midfielder surpassed a long-standing record of six assists previously held by Brazilian football icon Pelé, which was set during the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

Olise reached this remarkable milestone during France's intense 6-4 defeat against England in the third-place play-off on Saturday. This achievement served as a personal highlight for the 23-year-old, despite Les Bleus failing to secure a top-three finish in the competition.

Throughout the tournament, Olise proved to be a pivotal figure in France's attacking strategy, consistently setting up opportunities, notably for captain Kylian Mbappé. His exceptional vision, precise passing, and composed play established him as one of the most creative talents of the World Cup. A product of Crystal Palace's youth academy, Olise's contributions were instrumental in guiding France to the semi-finals before they were eventually defeated by Spain, who went on to become finalists.

While the 2026 FIFA World Cup featured an expanded 48-team format, potentially allowing teams to participate in more matches, Olise's tally of seven assists officially stands as the highest recorded by any player in a single World Cup campaign, according to FIFA's statistics. Although France concluded their tournament with a loss to England, Olise's record-breaking performance remains a significant individual achievement from the competition.