Thomas Muller has backed either Michael Olise or Kylian Mbappe as the top two candidates to win the Ballon d'Or this year.
The winner of the award will be announced on October 26, but Muller has overlooked favourites including former Bayern Munich team-mate Harry Kane and World Cup winner Lamine Yamal.
Instead, he has tipped a different Bayern player to claim the award, looking to Olise, whose performances in 2025-26 helped the club win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles.
Olise ended the Bundesliga season with 34 goal involvements (15 goals, 19 assists), a new record for a winger since Opta data collection began in the German top-flight in 2004-05.
Only Kane (41) directly contributed to more Bundesliga goals than the Frenchman, who also scored five goals and provided seven assists in 13 Champions League games.
He also carried his form into the World Cup, becoming the first player on record (since 1966) to register seven assists in a single edition.
As for Mbappe, this summer he became the all-time top scorer at World Cups (22 goals) and has scored 50 goals in 52 games for Real Madrid since the start of last season.
Of players in Europe's top five leagues, only Kane (67) has netted more club goals than Mbappe in that time.
"For me, there are two candidates whose individual performances have impressed me the most, and those are Michael Olise and his brilliant World Cup partner Kylian Mbappe," Muller wrote in his newsletter, as quoted by Sky Sport Germany.
"The two combine spectacle with goal threat. In detail, they manage to be efficient with their finesse and power, and to make the whole thing look incredibly easy.
"For me, that's the stuff of a world-class footballer. It simply needs a touch of magic."
Muller also highlighted Olise's impressive start to the 2026-27 campaign.
Olise has registered 11 goal involvements across all competitions so far this term (eight goals, three assists), including a hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of Union Berlin before the international break.
"It's nothing new how he converts those chances from outside the penalty area, but it's still always a sight to behold," Muller added.
tusdimopsu
0
Muller is jealous of Harry Kane because Harry Kane better than him and also yamal far better than him 🤷 that goes on the opposite side that fake player called Muller, you like it or not yamal going to win this year ballon d'or because he doesn't need to campaign on it, he can do it on the pitch.
tusdimopsu
0
All these bunch of clowns calling themselves Barcelona fans, how many goals does Yamal have in the world cup, champions league and domestic league compared to Michael Olise's in those aforementioned tournaments? You guys like hiding the truth because Yamal is a Barcelona player. No one doubts Yamal's exceptional talent, especially at his teen age, but in terms of scoring and assisting goals, plus the individual brilliance and golden touch of magic in decisive moment, Yamal is never in Olise's level. Olise is a complete genius!
Hi men football is always about scoring goals mostly it about teams play making others player better around that why the little boy called yamal can do he can score, assist his team mate, he can also entertain that is the beauty of his 👋 games and your the Real Madrid fan can enjoy yourself on that when him plays but will never say the true
KumahEmmanuel011
1
he will never choose a Spanish or barcelona player
IdrisAdamu007
0
Messi will win the Ballon D'or because he's FIFA Princess...period. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich.
I just wish this guy dies, u stink Ahswear
Messi4everGOAT
0
Messi will win the Ballon D'or because he's FIFA Princess...period. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich.
This f00l can't sleep without crying...keep making your own happiness
Eagle1996
0
olisw is fire
Zeediklpyz
1
Right from the beginning Muller walk with no sense
Cekabcpsy
1
All these bunch of clowns calling themselves Barcelona fans, how many goals does Yamal have in the world cup, champions league and domestic league compared to Michael Olise's in those aforementioned tournaments? You guys like hiding the truth because Yamal is a Barcelona player. No one doubts Yamal's exceptional talent, especially at his teen age, but in terms of scoring and assisting goals, plus the individual brilliance and golden touch of magic in decisive moment, Yamal is never in Olise's level. Olise is a complete genius!
Cekabcpsy
0
No muller,the ballon d’or it is for Lamine yamal you act like you don’t watch Barcelona or Spain 🇪🇸 national team.
How many goals does Yamal have in the world cup, champions league and domestic league compared to Michael Olise's in those aforementioned tournaments? You guys like hiding the truth because Yamal is a Barcelona player. No one doubts Yamal's exceptional talent, especially at his teen age, but in terms of scoring and assisting goals, plus the individual brilliance and golden touch of magic in decisive moment, Yamal is never in Olise's level. Olise is a complete genius!
Cekabcpsy
0
Thank God Muller is not the one giving out the Ballon D’Or, he should have given it to Neuer lol
Truth must be told, In terms of individual brilliance and golden touch of magic in decisive moment, Olise is far far away ahead of Yamal. No one doubt Yamal's exceptional talent, especially at his teen age, but gaskiya the hype around the outside on him is just extreme.
hen2020
0
In do line there do line, in grease do wield line do line there do line.
buylu101
2
Thank God Muller is not the one giving out the Ballon D’Or, he should have given it to Neuer lol
Fokbeklps
4
Must be Kane or Yamal. No one else deserves
Desciklnot
1
Messi will win the Ballon D'or because he's FIFA Princess...period. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich.
Ronaldo should win Oscar his drama is above titanicovie
nomdeloprt
1
Messi will win the Ballon D'or because he's FIFA Princess...period. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich.
and Fraudnaldo is UEFA Queen🤡🤡🤡🤡
nomdeloprt
3
are u normal
he's right no one is near Messi when it comes to playing football, none of these new generation of players will give you Messi impact none,Only Maradona and Pele is on Messi level
Fomaikmrsz
0
No muller,the ballon d’or it is for Lamine yamal you act like you don’t watch Barcelona or Spain 🇪🇸 national team.
what did he do in the world cup
Yiubdiktuy
2
mumu
Vuailntuyz
2
Mbappe for Balon dor
isaacizoh
0
Messi should win when he is alive bcoz no one comes close to him in football..
are u normal
vecabcky
2
No muller,the ballon d’or it is for Lamine yamal you act like you don’t watch Barcelona or Spain 🇪🇸 national team.
ballsdeepanalysis
0
so odd he didnt backed his ex teammate
Jitaikopst
3
Messi will win the Ballon D'or because he's FIFA Princess...period. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich.
Messi should win when he is alive bcoz no one comes close to him in football..
malablata
5
Messi will win the Ballon D'or because he's FIFA Princess...period. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich.