Some records exist so long they start to feel like furniture. Pelé’s single-tournament assist record from the 1970 World Cup was one of them. Then Michael Olise showed up in 2026 and quietly moved it to the curb.
The France winger finished the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 7 assists, the most by any player in a single tournament in over five decades, breaking the mark of 6 that Pelé set in Mexico more than half a century ago.
What the numbers actually looked like
Olise’s 7 assists placed him well clear of the second tier. Kylian Mbappé, Martin Ødegaard of Norway, Morocco’s Brahim Díaz, and Lionel Messi of Argentina each finished with 4 assists, tied for second place behind Olise’s record-setting total.
Mbappé’s tournament contribution went beyond assists, though. The France striker recorded 10 goals across the competition, giving him a combined tally of 14 goal contributions for the tournament.
