Zlatan Ibrahimović: 'Michael Olise is the Tom Brady of France'
He may not have added to his five assists so far at the FIFA World Cup 2026, but Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise still received glowing praise from two of football’s biggest names following his performance in France’s quarter-final victory over Morocco in Boston.
Former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimović and ex-France frontman Thierry Henry both likened the 24-year-old’s influence to that of legendary American Football quarterback Tom Brady, who regularly lit up Boston Stadium during a 20-season career with the New England Patriots.
Olise was not directly involved in either of Les Bleus’ two goals against the Atlas Lions but enjoyed more touches and played more passes in the final third than any of his team-mates.
“He did amazing again,” Ibrahimović, who was working as a pundit for FOX Sports alongside Henry, said. “He was the point guard - the Tom Brady of France.
“When you have a player like Olise, you don’t think. Just run and the ball will arrive. It will arrive exactly where you want it.”
Henry, who recently described Olise as “on another planet”, added: “As soon as [he gets] the ball, it’s over. We’re here in Foxborough. Tom Brady, that’s one of your loop passes in between!”
Olise’s five World Cup assists this summer have left him on the brink of Brazil legend Pelé’s single-tournament record of six, which he set during the 1970 edition in Mexico.
He is also just three away from Lionel Messi’s outright record of eight, having played 25 fewer World Cup games than the Argentina talisman overall.
France will play the winners of Friday’s quarter-final between Spain and Belgium in the semi-finals.
