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Michael Olise etched his name into FIFA World Cup history despite France's dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in the 2026 third-place play-off. The French winger registered two more assists to finish the tournament with a record-breaking seven, setting a new benchmark for the most assists ever recorded at a single World Cup.

The previous record had stood for more than half a century. Pele produced six assists during Brazil's triumphant FIFA World Cup 1970 campaign in Mexico, a feat that remained untouched for 56 years. Olise has now surpassed one of football's most iconic milestones with a remarkable creative display throughout the tournament.

The 24-year-old began his record-breaking run by providing an assist in France's opening match against Senegal. He then produced two assists against Iraq before adding another two in the victory over Sweden, putting himself within touching distance of Pele's legendary mark.

The record finally fell against England, where Olise delivered another two assists in an extraordinary 10-goal thriller. Although France ultimately came up short, the winger's outstanding vision and creativity ensured his tournament would be remembered as one of the greatest playmaking campaigns in World Cup history.

Yet for Michael Olise, the statistics told only part of the story. Despite rewriting the record books, the France international struggled to celebrate after the final whistle. Having missed two clear-cut scoring opportunities during the match, he was reportedly overcome with emotion in the dressing room, blaming himself for the defeat.