Former French World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry sees echoes of Zinedine Zidane in the playing style of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.
Following Olise’s impressive performance in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, where he scored the interim 2-2 goal, Dugarry praised the 24-year-old. «We don’t realize what we are witnessing: he is an exceptional player,» he stated on RMC Sport.
«We are witnessing the birth of a star. He is only at the beginning of his capabilities. He has something truly special. He can do everything: he can score goals, play passes, he is lightning fast. We are at the beginning of something gigantic,» Dugarry concluded.
Dugarry, who won the World Cup on home soil alongside Zidane in 1998, drew a direct comparison: «I might be going too far, but I think this guy has something of ‘Zizou’ about him, in his somewhat relaxed way of controlling the ball, using his body, moving between the lines, in his vision of the game,» he explained.
Michael Olise is a Potential Ballon d’Or Favorite
Bayern Munich acquired Olise in the summer of 2024 for 53 million Euros from Crystal Palace. His market value now significantly exceeds 100 million Euros. He is contracted to Bayern until 2029 without a release clause. This season, he has accumulated 59 goal contributions across 47 appearances for the Munich club.
Should Bayern Munich secure the Champions League title this season, Olise, alongside Harry Kane, is expected to be a top contender for the Ballon d’Or.
He debuted for the French national team in September 2024 and has since earned 15 caps, scoring four goals. His place in coach Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad is considered secure.
Michael Olise’s Statistics in the 2025/26 Season:
| Appearances: | 47 |
| Minutes Played: | 3671 |
| Goals: | 20 |
| Assists: | 29 |
English Translation:
For Christophe Dugarry, France’s 1998 World Cup winner, Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise’s playing style evokes memories of Zinedine Zidane.
After Olise once again delivered a strong performance in the epic Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain (4-5), scoring the interim 2-2 goal, Dugarry enthused about the 24-year-old: «We don’t realize what we are experiencing: he is an exceptional player,» he said on RMC Sport.
«We are experiencing the birth of a star. He is only at the beginning of his abilities. He has something truly special. He can do everything: he can score goals, play passes, he is lightning fast. We are at the beginning of something gigantic,» Dugarry opined.
Dugarry, who became a World Cup winner alongside Zidane in their home country in 1998, ultimately brought the Ballon d’Or winner into the conversation with the current Bayern star: «I might be going a bit too far, but I think this guy has something of ‘Zizou’ about him, in his somewhat casual way of controlling the ball, using his body, moving between the lines, in his game intelligence,» he made clear.
Michael Olise is Expected to Be Among the Ballon d’Or Favorites
FC Bayern Munich signed Olise in the summer of 2024 from Crystal Palace for 53 million Euros; his market value is now well over 100 million Euros. He is still under contract at FCB until 2029, with no release clause. In the current season, he has accumulated 59 goal contributions across 47 competitive matches for Munich.
Should FC Bayern secure the Champions League title this season, Olise is expected to be among the absolute top candidates for the Ballon d’Or, alongside Harry Kane.
He debuted for the French national team in September 2024 and has since played 15 international matches (four goals). His place in coach Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad is secured.
Michael Olise’s Statistics in the 2025/26 Season:
| Games: | 47 |
| Minutes Played: | 3671 |
| Goals: | 20 |
| Assists: | 29 |