No Kylian Mbappé? No problem.
Michael Olise drilled a late goal to give France a 1-0 Nations League victory over Belgium on Monday, Sept. 28 at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.
In the 88th minute, Les Bleus played excellent defense to stop Belgium from scoring. Olise, 24, then took a pass on the Red Devils' side of the pitch, bounced the ball off his chest, and raced downfield. He dribbled past one defender, who fell trying to chase him, and then ran up to a pair of Belgium players in front of the goal. He smacked the ball into the corner of the net just past the leaping goalkeeper Senne Lammens for the golazo.
¡GOLAZO! 🇫🇷 ¡GOLAZO! 🇫🇷 Michael Olise pega un zurdazo increíble que rompe las redes belgas. #UEFANationsLeague pic.twitter.com/QuQADo0Lu7
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) September 28, 2026
SUPER SUB MICHAEL OLISE 🇫🇷
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 28, 2026
A brilliant solo goal to put France in front over Belgium late! pic.twitter.com/yRQA8vABIX
The goal was so exhilarating that France's ever-stoic manager, Zinedine Zidane, ran down the sideline and kicked a ball that was on a stand, sending it flying.
"I don't even know what I did," he told the media in French after the match while grinning ear to ear.
This by Zizou was so wild it looked like it was AI-created. His reaction to Olise goal: « When I saw him start dribbling [from French half!], I knew he was going to score. » pic.twitter.com/xDG8fbiNZL
— Paul Kennedy (@pkedit) September 28, 2026
"Je ne sais même pas ce que j'ai fait" 🤣
— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) September 28, 2026
Zinédine Zidane raconte sa célébration énorme sur le but de Michael Olise face à la Belgique 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/7UnnpG4Bl5
This is Zidane's first year at the helm of France's national team. He replaced Didier Deschamps this summer when France's longest-tenured manager retired after finishing fourth in the World Cup. Zizou is 2-0 with both matches so far being Nations League fixtures.
France is without Mbappé because the Golden Boot winner and Ballon d'Or candidate injured his left knee after scoring against Turkey on Friday, Sept. 25. Olise had the assist on the play.
During the World Cup, Olise had seven assists, which surpassed Brazilian icon Pelé for the tournament record.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Olise drills game-winning goal for France and Zizou has hilarious reaction
