How Michael Olise is putting himself in Ballon d'Or frame at Bayern

A left-footed winger cutting in from the right flank? It just feels natural at Bayern Munich.

It was an Arjen Robben trademark - now it's Michael Olise's.

Bayern go into the second leg of their last-16 tie with Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday holding a 6-1 advantage.

That's thanks to a dazzling performance from the 24-year-old in the first leg, when he scored twice and laid on an assist.

The display was in keeping with Olise's remarkable form since he joined from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024 - no one in Europe's top five leagues has more than his 23 assists in all competitions this season, no winger can top his 38 goal involvements.

It's no wonder he's now being talked about as one of the best players on the planet.

"It's nice to hear but there's half of the season still to play, so I'm focused on the team and on team titles now," said the typically relaxed Frenchman on a potential Ballon d'Or after his masterclass in Bergamo.

He may have a laid-back attitude and a languid playing style, but behind the calm exterior there is a steely determination.

"I don't want to compare the players because they're not the same but [he has] the mentality of [former Manchester City player] Kevin de Bruyne when I played with him," said Bayern boss Vincent Kompany after the Atalanta game.

"I was lucky to watch him come through as a young player and become a superstar. I saw the whole process and it is that obsession with detail that Michael has."

Fans of English football who watched Olise at Palace knew he was good. But this good?

After being linked with a number of Premier League clubs before he eventually joined Bayern, there will be plenty who regret missing out on the former Eagles star.

"He's matured a lot," European football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Sport of Olise. "He's made his debut for France, playing at the Olympics was also a massive help.

"To move away from London and to go to a completely different culture almost helped him grow up as a kid. He was a bit of a late bloomer, let's not forget. It's not been a traditional path to the top for him through Reading and then Crystal Palace."

"Kompany is the perfect coach for him. All the rotation and all the movement, when you are a creative player like Olise it must be amazing to play in. That's why he's flourishing so much at Bayern."

In his debut campaign in Germany he netted 17 goals and laid on 21 assists for his team-mates in all competitions. Already this season he has 15 goals and 23 assists, making him one of the most productive attacking players in European football.

Since he moved to Bayern, only the elite goalscorers on the continent can compete with Olise's overall output.

In terms of players in a similar position, Olise is out on his own at the moment.

Since the start of last season, Olise has 44 assists in all competitions - seven more than any other player from Europe's top five leagues - and in the same time period only Bruno Fernandes has created more chances than the Bayern star.

When you look at the portion of the pitch those goals and assists have come from, the Robben comparisons make sense too. Last Tuesday, Olise darted infield from the right flank past a couple of players and curled a left-footed shot into the corner.

"All too familiar," the Bayern X account shared in reference to the Dutchman. It's hard to argue.

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