Michael Olise and Lamine Yamal are currently considered the most talented right wingers in world football. However, legendary defender Marcel Desailly explained in an interview with GOAL why the Bayern star is a step behind the Barcelona prodigy. Both players continue to record impressive results for their clubs and national teams. This is reported by Goal.com reports .
In the 2025-26 season, Michael Olise showed phenomenal statistics, recording 20 goals and 26 assists in all competitions for Bayern. In turn, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal helped Barcelona win the La Liga title, tallying 24 goals and 18 assists. Although the statistics are close, Desailly highlighted the difference in their level of play.
"I think that in the intensity of high-level matches, Olise is still a step behind Yamal. Yamal understands the traps set for him on the pitch better and can anticipate them. In the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern, we saw that Olise could not withstand the opponent's pressure. He still needs to grow and adapt to the system," said the 1998 World Cup champion.
According to Desailly, despite being younger, Yamal has mastered the high-level game tempo and the energy distribution required for repeated efforts. Olise, on the other hand, drops his performance level in some crucial matches. While this does not cast doubt on his talent, it shows he still has a lot of work to do to reach Yamal's level.
Both players are expected to be key weapons for their national teams at the 2026 World Cup. Michael Olise with the France national team and Lamine Yamal with Spain will compete for the top prize on North American soil. Their creativity on the wings will be decisive in their teams' success.
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