Michael Olise emerges as leading contender to succeed Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi’s decision to retire from international football has intensified the debate over who could eventually inherit his status as the game’s leading entertainer, with Michael Olise emerging as the strongest candidate.

The Argentina forward’s departure will leave a significant void and, with his full retirement from playing now appearing closer, attention has turned to the next player capable of occupying football’s most celebrated creative role.

There is no clear consensus yet, but the discussion has largely narrowed to two young wingers: Olise of Bayern Munich and Lamine Yamal of Barcelona. Yamal has already established himself with major honours and records despite not yet being 19, while momentum around Olise has grown steadily since last season and reached a new level after his outstanding performances for France in the Nations League.

Many players may compete for individual awards in the years ahead. Replacing Messi’s influence, however, requires more than goals and assists. It demands an exceptional ability to produce moments of imagination and skill that set a player apart.

Although comparisons with the Argentina great remain difficult, the 24-year-old Olise currently appears the most convincing candidate. His left foot, tendency to move inside from the right and awareness of passing options others might not see give him a distinctive profile.

Olise also offers greater tactical variety than Yamal, whose role has been largely focused on operating as a right winger. The Bayern player has shown that he can perform as a false nine, attack the penalty area from central positions and score from a range of dangerous areas.

Olise’s numbers continue to rise

His progress has not come as a surprise to those who have followed his career. In his first season with Bayern Munich, Olise was named the Bundesliga’s best newcomer after scoring 12 goals and providing 15 assists in the competition.

He moved to another level in the 2025-26 season, contributing 22 goals and 29 assists across all competitions. He helped Bayern Munich win the domestic double and was also named the best player in the German league.

Since joining Bayern in the summer of 2024, Olise has recorded 92 goal contributions in 111 matches, including 45 goals and 47 assists. Among players from Europe’s five major leagues, only his team-mate Harry Kane, with 123 contributions, and France international Kylian Mbappe, with 101, have surpassed that total during the same period.

Praise for Olise has come from both Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany and France great Zinedine Zidane. Patrick Vieira, the former Crystal Palace manager who gave Olise his Premier League debut, has also predicted that the midfielder will win the Ballon d’Or one day.

Messi may be impossible to replicate, but if any player can inherit some of his magic in the coming years, Olise currently looks the leading candidate.