Michael Olise has openly disagreed with Thierry Henry’s recent comments regarding the best player in world football.
While the France legend claimed Olise outperformed his team-mate last year, the Bayern Munich winger firmly rejected that notion, throwing his full support behind Harry Kane to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or ahead of Kylian Mbappé after a sensational campaign.
Kane has emerged as one of the frontrunners for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, and his club colleagues have rallied behind him. Bayern Munich posted a video on Instagram in which their shortlisted contenders endorsed the England captain.
Olise, who is also up for the award alongside Dayot Upamecano, did not hesitate when asked why Kane should take home the trophy, replying simply: “Because he was the best player last season.”
Kane produced staggering numbers across the campaign, striking 61 times in all competitions, including 36 in the Bundesliga and netting a memorable hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal final to anchor his bid for the ultimate individual accolade.
Luis Díaz was equally enthusiastic when assessing the merits of Kane, highlighting that his influence extends far beyond his finishing ability. “He does everything. [He] attacks, defends, [assists],” Díaz said.
“He was one of the top scorers in the whole world last season. That’s why I think he deserves it. 100%. He always wants more, refuses to settle, and he helps you as a teammate to grow.”
Joshua Kimmich echoed those sentiments: “Apart from the goals, he’s incredibly important for the team. The most important thing is that the team wins, and he always wants to help with goals. If we’re already winning 3-0 and he isn’t scoring, that isn’t a reason for him to be unhappy.”
However, Kane’s unanimous backing in Munich contrasts sharply with the fierce debate across European football. Henry recently argued that Mbappé merits the top spot, while suggesting that Olise actually outperformed Kane domestically.
Olise
“I think this year is a bit more complicated … Harry Kane, it’s not me, but the best player in Germany last year was Michael Olise,”
Henry said. With candidates such as Rodri and Lamine Yamal also accumulating heavy backing, the final outcome remains open to intense subjective scrutiny.
