Former England striker Michael Owen has declared Michael Olise among football’s elite talents and predicted Kylian Mbappé will finish his career as France‘s greatest ever footballer.
Speaking exclusively to Get French Football News, Owen praised Olise’s rapid development since his Crystal Palace days, stating the attacker has taken his game “to a whole new level” in the last two years.
Olise’s world-class credentials
Owen believes the former Crystal Palace winger has become one of the most dangerous players globally, highlighting his versatility across multiple aspects of play.
“He can run with the ball, he can pass, he can run, he can score goals – he can do pretty much everything,” Owen said. “He’s lethal and I think he would walk into any team in the world.”
The former Liverpool forward dismissed any suggestion that Olise would merely feature for England had he chosen international representation over France. “He’d have walked into it!” Owen laughed, adding that his assessment comes from sustained observation rather than a sudden reaction.
Mbappé’s historic trajectory
Owen also assessed Mbappé’s standing among French football royalty, placing him alongside Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Antoine Griezmann.
With 20 goals in 20 World Cup appearances, Mbappé already holds a unique position in tournament history, including a World Cup final hat-trick. Owen believes this is merely the beginning.
“By the end of his career he could very much be the greatest of all,” Owen stated. “My prediction – which is hardly a brave one – is that he is probably going to surpass everybody by the time he finishes his career.”
World Cup expansion concerns
Despite his enthusiasm for individual brilliance, Owen offered a critical assessment of FIFA’s tournament expansion, arguing the addition of more teams has diluted the competition’s historical integrity.
Owen warned that expanding the tournament—and potentially increasing to 64 teams in future editions—renders historical records “almost irrelevant nowadays.” He suggested that while spreading football globally benefits nations such as Cape Verde, the changes threaten the legacy of past greats like Pelé.
“Maybe ruined is a bit strong, but you have all these records that have lasted for ages… and now, in 12 years’ time, we’re going to have 50 players who have outscored Pelé,” he said.
Ballon d’Or and tournament predictions
Owen identified Mbappé as the current best player in the world and tipped him to claim the Ballon d’Or should France lift the World Cup trophy.
“If I had to say, I’d probably say Mbappé,” Owen replied when asked about the individual award. “I think Mbappé is the best player in the world and I think France are going to win the World Cup.”
He acknowledged competition from Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and others, noting that tournament success will likely determine the award’s recipient.