Olise Breaks Pele’s World Cup Assist Record Despite France’s Defeat to England

Michael Olise broke Pele’s 56-year World Cup assist record after registering two assists against England, finishing the 2026 tournament with seven overall assists.

France midfielder Michael Olise set a new FIFA World Cup record for the most assists in a single tournament after providing two assists in France’s dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in Saturday’s third-place playoff.

The Bayern Munich star registered his sixth and seventh assists of the 2026 World Cup, surpassing the previous record of six set by Brazilian legend Pele during the 1970 tournament in Mexico.

Olise’s creativity has been one of the standout features of the tournament, with five of his seven assists resulting in goals for France captain Kylian Mbappé. The partnership also established a new World Cup record for the most assists from one player to a single teammate in one edition of the competition.

Despite his remarkable playmaking achievements, Olise finished the tournament without scoring a goal.

His record-breaking performance, however, was overshadowed by France’s defeat to England in one of the highest-scoring third-place matches in World Cup history.

The 2026 World Cup has been a breakthrough tournament for the 24-year-old, whose vision, passing accuracy and ability to unlock defences played a crucial role in France’s run to the semi-finals.

Although Les Bleus fell short of securing a podium finish, Olise’s record ensures his name will be permanently etched into World Cup history alongside some of football’s greatest players.

Pele’s previous record had stood for 56 years, highlighting the significance of Olise’s accomplishment.

The French midfielder’s performances have also strengthened his reputation as one of Europe’s most influential attacking midfielders following an impressive debut season with Bayern Munich.

While France ended the tournament on a disappointing note, Olise’s individual milestone provided a rare bright spot, earning praise from football fans and analysts across the world.

His seven assists now stand as the highest ever recorded by a player in a single FIFA World Cup, surpassing one of the sport’s longest-standing creative records.