Michael Olise brews fresh controversy, snubs Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal’s best player while backing Lionel Messi for Argentina ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

Michael Olise has sparked debate among football fans after choosing Bruno Fernandes ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal’s best current player. The Bayern Munich winger made the comments during a light-hearted social media segment ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While Olise overlooked Ronaldo for Portugal, he had no hesitation in naming Lionel Messi as Argentina’s top player.Olise heads into the upcoming World Cup after enjoying a brilliant season with Bayern Munich. The 24-year-old attacker scored 22 goals and provided 31 assists across all competitions while helping the German giants win three trophies. After being included in France national football team’s 26-man World Cup squad, Olise is expected to play an important role as France chase another world title in the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.During a social media challenge with Bayern’s esports team, Michael Olise was asked to identify the best players from several major football nations. The French winger selected teammate Harry Kane for England and Joshua Kimmich for Germany. When asked about Brazil, however, Olise admitted he struggled to decide on one standout player.For Spain and Argentina, the winger answered confidently. He praised young sensation Lamine Yamal as Spain’s top player and selected Lipnel Messi for Argentina. But his biggest surprise came when discussing Portugal, where he picked Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes instead of Cristianp Ronaldo, one of the greatest players in football history.Meanwhile, Messi and Ronaldo continue preparing for what could be the final World Cup appearances of their legendary careers. Argentina enter the tournament as defending champions after lifting the trophy in Qatar in 2022, while Portugal are considered one of the strongest contenders for the title.Off the pitch, Messi recently came close to Ronaldo in another major achievement. According to reports from Bloomberg, the Argentine captain has now crossed the billion-dollar mark in career net worth, becoming only the second footballer after Ronaldo to achieve that milestone. Much of Messi’s wealth has come from salaries, endorsements, and long-term business partnerships, especially after his move to Inter Miami CF in the United States.Messi’s arrival in America has significantly boosted football’s popularity in the country ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The 38-year-old already secured his legacy by winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, but he is still expected to lead his nation once again in pursuit of another historic triumph. Argentina have been drawn in Group J alongside Austria, Jordan, and Algeria as they begin preparations to defend their world title.