Müller Tips Olise For Ballon d’Or, Del Piero Backs Kvaratskhelia

Michael Olise has received a major boost in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after Bayern Munich veteran Thomas Müller tipped the French winger as a stronger contender than team-mate Harry Kane.

The German believes Olise’s flair, creativity and ability to produce moments of magic could give him an advantage in the voting, despite describing Kane as the best striker in world football.

Speaking to SportBild, Müller praised the England captain’s goalscoring prowess and overall contribution but suggested Ballon d’Or voters are often drawn to players who offer something more visually spectacular.

“With his finishing and attacking qualities, Harry is the best striker I currently see. He’s got a wide range of qualities, but he’s not a player who can dribble past four people,” Müller said.

“As far as the Ballon d’Or is concerned, the ‘artistic element’ is taken into account.

“Generally, I see Harry as the more important player, but when it comes to the vote for the World’s Best Player, it’s more for players like Michael, with this dance-like, artistic, ease, magic quality, you can’t learn that.

“Michael is a player who delivers, a performer.”

Olise enjoyed a standout season for Bayern Munich, scoring 15 goals and providing 19 assists as the Bundesliga giants clinched a second straight league title.

While Müller is backing Olise, another football icon has thrown his weight behind Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Former Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero named the Georgian winger as his current favourite for football’s most prestigious individual prize following PSG’s UEFA Champions League triumph over Arsenal.

Working as a pundit for Sky, Del Piero argued that Kvaratskhelia’s consistency and impact throughout the campaign place him ahead of every other contender.

“If there were no World Cup, Kvaratskhelia would definitely win the Ballon d’Or from the Champions League,” Del Piero said.

“Nobody has been as determined as him in terms of goals, assists and performances on the pitch.”

Kvaratskhelia capped an outstanding European campaign by winning the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season award after scoring 10 goals and providing six assists in the competition.