France winger Michael Olise delivered a stunning hat-trick as France defeated Northern Ireland 3-1 in their final pre-World Cup friendly on June 8, 2026.
The result was exactly the response Didier Deschamps’ side needed following a surprise 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast the previous week.
The victory served as France’s last preparation before their Group I World Cup opener against Senegal on June 16.
Olise opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, pouncing on a rebound after Ousmane Dembélé’s effort was blocked, finishing coolly from close range.
The Bayern Munich winger then doubled France’s advantage with a thumping strike early in the second half, showcasing the raw power that has made him one of Europe’s most feared attackers.
He completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute in genuinely spectacular fashion, cutting inside from the right and curling a sublime left-footed effort into the top corner.
The three-goal haul capped an electric individual performance from the 24-year-old, who has now recorded 19 goals and 29 assists across all competitions this season for club and country.
Liverpool have been strongly linked with Olise as they search for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, who departed after nine years as the club’s talisman, finishing as their third-highest ever scorer with 256 goals.
The French winger’s left-footed style and prolific goal threat from the right flank have drawn direct comparisons to Salah, making him a natural candidate to fill the void at Anfield.
Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has publicly urged the club to sign Olise “at all costs,” underlining the level of excitement surrounding a potential deal.
However, Bayern Munich have been emphatic in their position, with sporting director Max Eberl stating Olise is “absolutely untouchable” and that the club hasn’t given a sale “a second thought.”
With Olise still under contract at Bayern and continuing to produce performances of this calibre, convincing the German giants to sell this summer will be an enormous challenge for Liverpool’s hierarchy.
For supporters watching the hat-trick unfold from Merseyside, though, the prospect of Olise pulling on a red shirt will only feel more compelling after tonight’s display.
