Nigerian-born star close to surpassing Lionel Messi

Michael Olise is enjoying a sensational season at Bayern Munich, with his creativity putting him on course for a place in European football history.

The Nigerian-born forward has already piled up an extraordinary number of assists, sparking talk that he could eclipse one of Lionel Messi’s most iconic records.

Olise, 24, has registered an incredible 19 assists across all competitions for Bayern this season, a return that has placed him firmly among Europe’s elite creators.

The all-time record in Europe’s top leagues is currently held by Lionel Messi, who produced 30 assists during his legendary 2011/12 campaign.

That tally is followed by Juan Mata with 29 and Kevin De Bruyne with 27, but Olise’s current trajectory suggests he could realistically challenge, and even surpass, Messi’s benchmark.

With plenty of the season still to play, the Bayern star’s consistency in delivering final balls has made the record feel increasingly attainable rather than just theoretical.

A key figure in Bayern’s attacking setup, Olise has become a constant source of danger, combining goals with elite-level creativity.

He has already notched 13 assists in just 18 Bundesliga appearances, added four more in seven Champions League matches, and contributed another two in five FIFA Club World Cup games. Alongside that, he has also scored 16 goals in all competitions, underlining his all-round impact.

Born to a Nigerian father and with eligibility to represent France, England, Algeria, and Nigeria, Olise’s rise was watched closely across multiple footballing nations, before he eventually chose to pitch his tent with Les Bleus

If he maintains this pace, he may not only cement his status as one of Europe’s brightest talents, but also write his name above Messi in the history books.