The match between France and Paraguay, corresponding to the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will not only put a ticket to the quarterfinals at stake. It can also become a historic day for Michael Olise, the 24-year-old right winger, born in England on December 12, 2001, but naturalized French.
The French attacker arrives at the match with five assiststhe best mark of the 2026 World Cup and a record that places him among the best attendees in the history of the World Cup.
According to official FIFA statistics, only Pierre Littbarski (Federal Germany, 1982), Robert Gadocha (Poland, 1974), Thomas Hassler (Germany, 1994) and Diego Armando Maradona (Argentina, 1986) reached five assists in the same edition of the tournament.
Ahead of them all remains Pelewho distributed six assists in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, a mark that continues to be the best recorded in a single World Cup.
One goal pass from history
If Olise assists a teammate against Paraguay, he will equal Pelé’s record and share first place in history in this classification.
If he signs two assists during the match, the French footballer will establish a new record with seven assists in the same World Cup edition.
The Bayern Munich player has established himself as France’s main game generator in this World Cup, where he combines five assists with an outstanding offensive performance that has turned the team led by Didier Deschamps into one of the candidates for the title.
A record that has endured more than half a century
Pelé’s brand has remained in force for 56 yearsdespite the fact that some of the best playmakers in history have passed through the World Cup.
Neither Maradona, nor Littbarski, nor Hässler, nor Gadocha managed to surpass the Brazilian’s six assists in the same edition.
Now, with at least four games left to play if France reaches the final, Michael Olise will have the opportunity to become the first footballer to equal or surpass that historic record since Mexico 1970.