Platini hails Olise, "a number 10 like in the old days", and his unique connection with Mbappé

Michael Olise has not yet scored at the 2026 World Cup, but his five assists in four matches have been enough to convince Michel Platini: the Bayern Munich attacking midfielder is, according to the France legend, “a number 10 like in the old days”.

“He really has all the qualities to be a number 10 like in the old days,” Platini said. “Modern football tends to place creators on the wings: at club level, Olise plays on the right wing, like Lamine Yamal, who also knows how to deliver this kind of pass. But Didier Deschamps, and this is the coach’s intelligence, has known how to adapt to his players’ qualities, and he will be the manager who brought back a number 10.”

The former UEFA president particularly emphasized the mutual understanding between Olise and Kylian Mbappé. “Mbappé knows very well where Olise will put the pass, because they speak the same language,” he explained. “It’s the intelligence of the game, and of the players. And Olise also knows that the others know. It’s a connection you didn’t see so often anymore, and Olise is one of the rare ones to bring all of that back to the surface.”

Platini also cited Ousmane Dembélé as another passer of this caliber within the squad. “Besides, Dembélé, he too, is capable of delivering these balls,” he added, before highlighting the collective discipline of the French attack: “When Dembélé, Olise and Barcola defend, Didier plays with ten defensive players, and I think Mbappé makes the effort too.”

European champion in 1984 and himself a former emblematic number 10 for France, Platini sees in the London-born player the resurgence of a profile that modern football had gradually pushed out to the wings. Olise’s statistical record — five assists in as many matches — gives him reason for now.