Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed his favorite player of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, surprisingly overlooking global icons like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé.
Instead, Ferdinand expressed his immense admiration for France’s Nigerian-born winger, Michael Olise, stating that the young attacker possesses the exact kind of flair that makes football worth watching.
“I want just someone with flair, man. Someone that makes me want to buy a ticket to go to a game, makes me want to stay to the end and don’t miss the end because of traffic, because he might do something again. This World Cup, it has to be Olise.” Rio Ferdinand said
Driving Les Bleus’ attack in North America
The 24-year-old Bayern Munich star has emerged as a major bright spot for Didier Deschamps’ squad during the tournament. Across his appearances, Olise has pulled the creative strings for France, racking up an impressive five assists to lead the competition’s playmaker charts.
Though France’s dreams of lifting the trophy were cut short following a 2-0 defeat to Spain in the semi-finals, Olise’s stock has never been higher. The winger is expected to feature heavily again as France prepares to face England in the bronze medal third-place play-off.
A premium price tag amid heavy transfer interest
Olise’s stellar tournament displays, combined with a dominant domestic campaign in Germany, have predictably caught the eye of Europe’s elite clubs. Both Real Madrid and Liverpool are reportedly monitoring the winger.
While reports suggest that Olise is personally keen on a move to Los Blancos, securing his signature won’t be easy. Bayern Munich are fully aware of their star asset’s skyrocketing value and have slapped a hefty asking price of over €200 million on the player, presenting a massive financial hurdle for any potential suitors.
