Michael Olise Breaks World Cup Assist Record in Thrilling Match

Olise Achieves Historic Assist Milestone

French winger Michael Olise has made history at the FIFA World Cup by achieving his seventh assist during the 2026 tournament, surpassing the legendary Pele's long-held record for the most assists in a single World Cup edition. This remarkable feat occurred during the third-place match against England at Miami Stadium, where he assisted two goals for captain Kylian Mbappe, bringing his total assists to seven.

Pele's previous record of six assists had remained unbroken since the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, a remarkable 56-year span. Olise kicked off his World Cup journey by assisting Mbappe in the opening match against Senegal, followed by two assists each in matches against Iraq and Sweden, inching closer to the historic record.

His two assists against England, both converted by Mbappe, not only helped him break Pele's record but also set a new standard for assists in a single World Cup. Despite this achievement, Olise still trails behind Argentina's Lionel Messi in the all-time World Cup assists leaderboard, as he is five assists short of Messi's overall record.

England Clinches Bronze in High-Scoring Encounter

Despite Olise's record-setting performance, France suffered a 6-4 defeat to England in a thrilling match that secured the bronze medal for the Three Lions. This loss marked a disappointing end to French head coach Didier Deschamps' illustrious 14-year tenure.

The match is now recorded as the highest-scoring third-place playoff in modern World Cup history, with England's Bukayo Saka scoring a stunning hat-trick that overshadowed Mbappe's two goals, leading England to their best World Cup finish abroad since 1966.

First Half: England's Commanding Lead

England dominated the first half, shocking France with a 4-0 lead by halftime. Declan Rice opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, followed by Ezri Konsa doubling the lead in the 18th minute. Bukayo Saka then scored twice in quick succession (37', 45+1'), marking the first time France conceded four goals in a single World Cup half.

Second Half: French Comeback and Mbappe's Record

The second half saw a dramatic turnaround as Deschamps made tactical changes that ignited a fierce French comeback. Mbappe scored in the 48th minute, followed by Bradley Barcola adding another goal just six minutes later, narrowing the score to 4-2. Mbappe's second goal in the 66th minute made it 4-3, allowing him to surpass Messi as the highest goalscorer in World Cup history with 22 goals.

As the match neared its conclusion, England secured a late penalty in the 87th minute, which Saka converted for his hat-trick, extending the lead to 5-3. Although Ousmane Dembele scored for France in stoppage time, Jude Bellingham sealed the match with a goal in the 90+8th minute, finalizing England's 6-4 victory and concluding their World Cup 2026 campaign on a high note.