Michael Olise breaks Pele's World Cup assist record

French winger Michael Olise has broken one of the longest-standing records in World Cup history, setting a new benchmark for assists in a single tournament during a dramatic third-place playoff on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The Bayern Munich star registered his seventh assist of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in France's 6-4 defeat to England at Miami Stadium, surpassing the record of six set by Brazilian legend Pelé in 1970.

Olise's historic moment came in the 67th minute when he combined with captain Kylian Mbappé, providing the pass for one of Mbappé's two goals in the match. This assist pushed Olise past Pelé's mark, which had endured for 56 years. The 24-year-old's record-breaking campaign began in France's opening match against Senegal and included two-assist performances against both Iraq and Sweden.

Despite the individual milestone, the match ended in a high-scoring loss for France, concluding a 14-year tenure for head coach Didier Deschamps. England secured the bronze medal in a contest that set a record for the highest-scoring third-place playoff in modern tournament history. England raced to a 4-0 halftime lead with goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and a first-half brace...