Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise has been named the best offensive player in world football, according to a report by the CIES Football Observatory.
The ranking, based on key attacking metrics, also features five African players among the top 50.
The CIES evaluation considers three fundamental aspects of attacking play—receiving, chance creation, and finishing—among players who have accumulated at least 1,080 minutes in their respective leagues.
Olise, the French international, leads the list with an overall score of 88.5 out of 100, excelling particularly in chance creation, where he has achieved a maximum score of 99.
Yamal and Wirtz among top performers
Closely behind Olise is Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who has an average rating of 87.7.
Much like Olise, the Spanish prodigy’s standout attribute is his ability to create goal-scoring opportunities.
The top five is rounded out by Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (85.0), Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior (84.2), and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé (83.6).
While Wirtz and Dembélé showcase versatility in the final third, Vinícius stands out with his dribbling and penetration in attacking zones.
Five African players make the top 50
Despite the absence of stars like Sadio Mané and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, African talent remains well represented in the rankings.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, a key figure for both club and country, is the highest-ranked African player, securing seventh place with a rating of 81.3.
Other African players making the cut include Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Yacine Brahimi (Al-Gharafa), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), and Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth).
However, Senegalese forwards are notably absent from the top 100, a surprising omission considering the presence of several Senegal internationals performing at the highest levels of European football.
Complete top 10 ranking
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, Germany) – 88.5
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain) – 87.7
- Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) – 85.0
- Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid, Spain) – 84.2
- Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain, France) – 83.6
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, England) – 81.9
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England) – 81.3
- Sávio Moreira (Manchester City, England) – 81.0
- Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain, France) – 80.9
- Noa Lang (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands) – 80.7
The ranking, compiled using extensive data analysis, provides insight into the most impactful attacking players in the world.
As the season progresses, these players will look to further cement their status among football’s elite.
