Gael Clichy believes Michael Olise could follow in Kylian Mbappe's footsteps and announce himself as a superstar at the 2026 World Cup. The Bayern Munich winger has only earned 16 caps for France despite his obvious talent, making this tournament a potential breakthrough moment on football's biggest stage.

Clichy worked with Olise as assistant coach during France's run to the 2024 Olympic final in Paris, where he scored crucial goals and led by example. Before that tournament, many in France hadn't seen his quality since his move from Crystal Palace to Germany. The 22-year-old showed flashes of brilliance but needed development in his defensive work and overall game awareness.

Under Pep Guardiola's guidance at Manchester City, Olise has been working to become a complete player, improving his out-of-possession contributions. Clichy notes that exceptional talents often get away with incomplete games at youth level, but international football demands excellence across all five phases of play.

If Olise maintains his upward trajectory and adds defensive solidity to his attacking prowess, he could approach Kevin De Bruyne's creative statistics. His character and leadership qualities make him valuable beyond just goals and assists as France targets World Cup success.