A Hat-Trick for the History Books
Michael Olise announced himself on the international stage in spectacular fashion on Monday evening, scoring a stunning hat-trick for France in their 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland. What makes the achievement particularly noteworthy is not just the three goals themselves, but the position from which they came — Olise, primarily a right-sided winger for Bayern Munich, delivered his treble without ever playing as a traditional centre-forward.
The feat places Olise in exclusive company. To find a hat-trick scored by a French player operating from a wide or withdrawn attacking position, one must reach back through decades of football history. The last winger to achieve the milestone for Les Bleus was Charly Loubet, who scored three in eleven minutes against Luxembourg in December 1967. Dominique Rocheteau managed the feat in October 1985, but he was playing as part of a two-man attack rather than a genuine wide player.
The Platini Comparison
The reference point for all French hat-trick discussion remains Michel Platini, whose two perfect hat-tricks during Euro 1984 — one against Belgium and another against Yugoslavia, just three days apart — represent the gold standard. Platini, playing as a classic number ten with two strikers ahead of him, scored with his right foot, left foot, and head in both matches, an extraordinary demonstration of complete finishing.
Olise’s treble shares the same variety: a goal with his right, one with his left, and a header. After spending most of the first half operating from the right flank, the Bayern star drifted into central areas in the second period, where he scored his second goal before completing the hat-trick. “The singularity of Michael Olise’s hat-trick comes from the positions he occupies — a corridor player on the right side who spent a few minutes in the axis at the start of the second half,” noted L’Équipe.
Olise’s Unique Skill Set
What makes Olise so difficult for defenders to handle is his unpredictability. Comfortable on either foot, blessed with exceptional close control, and possessing a keen eye for goal, he drifts across the attacking third in search of space. His time at Crystal Palace and subsequent move to Bayern Munich have refined these instincts, turning him into one of Europe’s most complete attacking players.
The hat-trick also reinforces the remarkable depth of French attacking talent. With Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and now Olise all capable of match-winning performances, Didier Deschamps’ squad heads into the World Cup with an embarrassment of riches in the final third. Olise’s performance against Northern Ireland suggests he could be a decisive factor in the tournament ahead.
World Cup Implications
As France finalise their preparations for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Olise’s form could not have come at a better time. Deschamps now has the luxury of a genuine game-changer who can operate across multiple attacking positions. Whether deployed from the start or as an impact substitute, Olise has shown he possesses the capability to decide matches at the highest level.
The question now is whether he can replicate this form on the grandest stage of all. If Monday night’s performance is any indication, French fans may be witnessing the emergence of a new generation-defining talent — one whose name already belongs alongside the legendary figures of French football history.
Source: L’Équipe
