The story behind Michael Olise's unusual World Cup instagram photos
Away from the action, however, Olise's social media activity has generated just as much curiosity.
Photo shows Michael Olise TV-photo taken by Florence Pernet © Olise IG
Michael Olise has been one of the outstanding performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but while his creativity has helped fire France into the semi-finals, a quiet act of loyalty away from the pitch has also caught the attention of football fans.
The Bayern Munich winger has been France's chief creator throughout the tournament. Heading into the semi-finals, Olise leads the World Cup assist charts with five assists, creating goals for teammates across the group stage and knockout rounds as Didier Deschamps' side emerged among the favourites for the title. His vision and passing have been central to France's attack, with only Kylian Mbappé having been directly involved in more goals for Les Bleus during the tournament.
Away from the action, however, Olise's social media activity has generated just as much curiosity.
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Before the World Cup began, the 24-year-old deleted every previous post from his Instagram account. Since then, every photograph he has uploaded has appeared grainy and pixelated, looking more like images taken from a television screen than professional stadium photography.
The explanation lies with Florence Pernet, Olise's personal photographer.
Pernet, who has documented Olise's career and whose images regularly feature on his social media platforms, was denied accreditation to cover the World Cup in the United States. Unable to photograph matches from inside the stadiums, she instead continued her work from home, capturing images directly from television broadcasts using her camera to produce a distinctive visual style.
Rather than replace her work with thousands of high-resolution images available from accredited photographers, Olise chose to continue posting only Pernet's photographs throughout the tournament. The decision ensured the photographer remained part of his World Cup journey despite being unable to travel with him.
The gesture mirrors the understated personality that has followed Olise throughout his career. Reserved away from the spotlight and rarely one to seek headlines, he has instead allowed his football to do the talking.
On the pitch, the former Crystal Palace star has become France's creative heartbeat, unlocking defences with defence-splitting passes and intelligent movement. Off it, his decision to continue showcasing the work of his personal photographer has highlighted another side of his character, one built on loyalty and consistency.
As France prepares for a blockbuster World Cup semi-final, Olise is making headlines not only for the chances he creates, but also for the people he continues to support behind the scenes.