Is Michael Olise destined to become one of the best players in the world? Former Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé certainly seems to think so, going as far as comparing the Bayern Munich star to Lionel Messi in his prime.
Cissé believes Olise has the talent to win the Ballon d’Or, particularly if he continues to develop under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane, whom he sees as an ideal mentor for the French international.
“Will Michael Olise win the Ballon d’or playing for Zinedine Zidane? Yes, because
of the player’s talent and Zidane’s experience, aura and advice. If the kid is smart and listens, and I think he’s not far off, then maybe next year, otherwise he is a future Ballon d’Or winner, because what he’s doing is extraordinary,” Cissé told Mr Gamble. “I think the last player like that was Lionel Messi in his prime. Honestly, it’s a joy to have him with us. We could have missed out on him to England, so we’re lucky, and he proves it every match.
“He had a small lapse in behavior and got a red card, but that happens. It’s part of being a great player. Diego Maradona made mistakes, Zizou made mistakes. It’s up to him to understand that it can happen once but mustn’t happen again. Otherwise, he’s an extraordinary talent.”
The comparison to Messi is certainly bold, but Olise has given Bayern Munich supporters plenty of reasons to be excited. His close control, vision, creativity, and ability to make things happen in the final third have made him one of the team’s most influential attacking players.
Cissé also acknowledged Olise’s recent disciplinary lapse, arguing that the important thing is how the winger responds and learns from the experience. Extraordinary talent must be accompanied by the maturity to match it.
The reference to Zidane is particularly interesting, with Cissé suggesting that the legendary Frenchman’s experience and guidance could help Olise reach another level. For Bayern Munich, the immediate priority is to keep Olise performing at his current level while helping him continue to develop. But if Cissé is right, the Frenchman’s ceiling could be even higher than anyone currently imagines.
So, what do you think? How bright can Olise’s star shine?
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