Michael Olise gives shy reply to Ballon d’Or chants

Michael Olise declined to engage with supporters’ Ballon d’Or chants after producing a decisive performance for France against Belgium. Asked about the praise by TF1 after the final whistle, the Bayern Munich winger replied briefly that he had nothing to say before leaving for the dressing room.

Olise entered in the 60th minute for Ousmane Dembélé and transformed the game in its closing stages. He scored twice and provided an assist as France recovered from Dodi Lukebakio’s 35th-minute goal to win 4-1 in the Nations League. The result followed a difficult first half against Belgium’s deep defensive shape.

The 24-year-old played down his individual contribution, focusing instead on France’s collective response. He said the team improved late in the match and praised the quality within the squad. Olise also credited new head coach Zinédine Zidane’s ideas, saying the players had followed them successfully across the four matches.

Zidane called Olise’s display exceptional, while Andy Diouf described him as a high-class player capable of changing matches. The chants at the Stade de France placed Olise alongside the kind of individual acclaim previously heard for Ousmane Dembélé before his 2025 Ballon d’Or win. Olise is among the 30 nominees for the 2026 award, with the ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.