Matuidi names Olise as the France 'monster' who can fire Les Bleus to third straight World Cup final

Blaise Matuidi, who won the World Cup with France in Russia in 2018, has singled out Michael Olise as the player most capable of propelling Les Bleus to a third straight World Cup final at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The former midfielder made the comments at a MatchWornShirt exhibition event in New York City.

No nation has reached three consecutive World Cup finals since Brazil won their record fifth title against Germany in 2002, and France — runners-up in Qatar in 2022 after losing to Argentina on penalties — are in a position to match that feat.

Matuidi, now 39, was a central figure in France’s 2018 triumph alongside Paul Pogba, and he retains a close bond with his former midfield partner. “When I was in the national team my favourite roommate was Paul Pogba, because we had many years together. Since 2013, we were together and spent a lot of time in the national team together,” he said. “Also outside — his family knew my family. My parents were living in a city where his parents were also living so we spent time like this together.”

On France’s current prospects, Matuidi was bullish, though measured. “I hope that France will go all the way. They have to take it step by step, game after game. But they have the talent and the quality.”

He reserved particular praise for Dayot Upamecano at the back — “he’s a monster” — but it was Olise who drew his highest endorsement in attack. “If you have to choose one, I say Olise at the moment is doing so well. He does everything, he knows what to do with the ball and without the ball, so he’s a player that can change the game in one minute.”

That assessment carries weight in a squad that already includes Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué among its attacking options.

Matuidi also reflected on the extraordinary scenes that greeted the squad’s return to Paris after their 2018 victory. “The craziest thing I saw was when we landed in Paris, all the people on the bridges — that was something I’d never seen before in my life. It doesn’t matter the colour of the people, they were all together, everywhere from the airport to the Champs-Élysées. That was a fantastic atmosphere.”