Just The Start For Olise

Thierry Henry believes that Michael Olise of Bayern Munich has much more to show. The coach of France's Olympic team said, "You haven't seen anything yet," as they prepare to face Spain in the Gold Medal Match at the 2024 Paris Games this Friday.

Olise has been a key player for France, starting in four out of five games. He was only rested in the last group-stage match because France had already secured a spot in the knockout rounds. Olise has been involved in seven out of the eight goals France scored when he was on the field. He even scored twice, including a crucial goal in the 3-1 semi-final win against Egypt that took France to the final, which will be held at Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes, near the Eiffel Tower.

Olise's strong performance follows an impressive season with Crystal Palace in the English Premier League, where he scored 10 goals and provided six assists in just 19 games despite dealing with injuries. These performances convinced Bayern Munich to sign him this summer.

Henry, who has won both the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship, believes Bayern Munich has signed a 22-year-old player who will only get better.

"He has incredible skills, and you haven't seen the best of him yet; it's just the beginning," said Henry. "Players like him don't come around often."

While France is thrilled to have Olise, fans in Algeria, England, and Nigeria might wonder what could have been. Born in London to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, Olise could have played for four different countries. However, he always wanted to play for France, following in the footsteps of his idols, Thierry Henry, Zinédine Zidane, and Nicolas Anelka.

"I got goosebumps when he told me he wanted to play for France," said Henry, who can speak to Olise in English while Olise works on improving his French. "He had other options, but he chose France because it was his dream. When someone has a dream, they will do anything to make it come true."

France has won the Olympic men's football title once before, at the Los Angeles Games in 1984. Olise, who hasn't yet played for France's senior team but has scored one goal in seven appearances for the U21s, could make history for French football before taking a short break and then joining Bayern Munich to help them in the 2024/25 Bundesliga season.

"Football fans already know him because he has been a star in the Premier League," said Alexandre Lacazette, the captain of France's Olympic team. "He's a fantastic player and a great person—humble and funny."

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