Olise or Kane? Bayern duo in the hunt for the Ballon d’Or | OneFootball

The World Cup is entering its decisive phase—and for FC Bayern, the focus isn’t just on the battle for the World Cup title. With Harry Kane and Michael Olise, the Munich club has two strong contenders for the Ballon d’Or.

Even though Germany was eliminated from the tournament early on, the World Cup remains highly interesting from FC Bayern’s perspective. With Harry Kane playing for England and Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano playing for France, three Munich players are still in the semifinals.

It’s not just about reaching the final or winning the World Cup title. Their performances in the remaining matches could also have a decisive influence on who wins the Ballon d’Or.

Olise is playing his way into the circle of favorites

Michael Olise, in particular, has put himself in the spotlight with his performances at the World Cup.

The attacking midfielder leads the tournament in assists with five and is one of the French national team’s most important players. With more strong performances in the semifinal against Spain and a potential final, the 24-year-old could further improve his chances of winning the most prestigious individual award in world soccer.

Zlatan Ibrahimović has also recently expressed his admiration for the Bayern star. The Swede even compared Olise to NFL legend Tom Brady and raved about his extraordinary playmaking abilities.

“When you have a player like Olise, don’t think—just start running; the ball will come. And it will land exactly where you want it to.”

Kane Stakes His Claim

Photo: Getty Images

But Harry Kane also has good reason to be hopeful. The Bayern striker is among the top scorers with six goals and could still win the World Cup with England. A successful finish to the tournament would significantly strengthen his position in the race for the Ballon d’Or.

Even before the World Cup began, Kane made no secret of his ambitions.

“Given the trophies I’ve won this season and the number of goals I’ve scored, I’d be in the running,” the Englishman explained in an interview with L’Équipe.

If England were to win the World Cup title, one could “imagine that the trophy would go to an English player.”

Bayern could provide two top candidates

While Olise impresses above all with his creativity and game intelligence, Kane once again stands out for his exceptional goal-scoring ability.

If France and England do indeed reach the final, the showdown between the two Bayern stars could even spill over into the Ballon d’Or race.

Alongside Kane and Olise, however, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi remain among the top favorites. Especially in major tournaments, outstanding performances in the past have often been the deciding factor—a pattern that could repeat itself this year.

One thing is certain: The World Cup semifinals could not only decide the world champion but also set the course in the race for the Ballon d’Or.