Marcus Thuram and Kylian Mbappe Poke Fun at Bayern Star Michael Olise

A video from the French national team’s training camp is currently causing a stir, with Bayern Munich’s offensive star Michael Olise at its center.

Olise found himself the subject of amusement from his national teammates Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan) and Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid). The video, posted on Les Bleus’ Instagram channel, is captioned: «When Thuram imitates Olise. Wait for Michael’s reaction at the end.»

Before a training session, Olise was sitting slightly off to the side with Mbappe when the Real Madrid star drew the Bayern player’s attention to a skit Thuram was performing a few meters away. The former Gladbach player had wrapped a towel-like object, possibly a cooling pack, around his face. This was a reference to Olise’s habit at Bayern, where he was often seen wearing a cap pulled low over his face before matches. Notably, before the Champions League semi-final first leg against PSG, he wore a scarf around his neck, covering his mouth so that only his eyes were visible.

«Who is that?» Thuram called out to Mbappe, briefly inspecting the training pitch turf. After just a few seconds, the striker returned and burst into loud laughter, with Mbappe unable to contain his own amusement.

Thuram and Mbappe Roar with Laughter, Olise Offers a Faint Smile

The context behind the prank is Olise’s repeated quick inspections of the pitch before games at Bayern. In his typical relaxed manner, he would briefly test the playing surface, often with his cap pulled down, and then move on. The 24-year-old’s reaction to the antics of his teammates was characteristically Olise: a faint smile and a shake of his head.

Will Olise, Mbappe, and the Team Lead France to a Third World Cup Title?

Olise, who won the domestic double with Bayern this past season, is currently preparing with the French national team at their training center in Clairefontaine for the 2026 World Cup. The Ballon d’Or candidate is expected to play a significant role in the tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, where France is considered one of the top favorites, aiming for their third World Cup title after victories in 1998 and 2018.

The French offensive line, featuring Olise, Mbappe, and PSG star Ousmane Dembele, looks particularly impressive. They are further bolstered by other high-caliber offensive players such as Thuram, Desire Doue (PSG), Bradley Barcola (PSG), and Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), who can instill fear in any opponent.

Before heading to North America, France will play two friendly matches at home: on June 4th in Nantes against Germany’s group opponent Ivory Coast, and four days later in Lille against Northern Ireland. The World Cup campaign for Olise and his teammates will begin on June 16th with an opening match against Senegal. France finds itself in what is likely the strongest preliminary group, alongside Senegal and Norway, featuring superstar Erling Haaland. Iraq, their second group opponent on June 22nd, is considered a clear underdog, with the group stage concluding against Norway on June 26th.

Michael Olise: His International Career for France to Date