Michael Olise's Hat-Trick and Neymar's Gesture Highlight Stellar Performance

Michael Olise walked out of the Allianz Arena with his arms full and his reputation enhanced again.

The match ball was his, by right. A hat-trick in a 7-0 demolition of Union, three goals wrapped up with two assists, left no doubt about who owned the evening. The player of the match trophy followed, another formality on a night when every attack seemed to run through the 25-year-old.

Then came the surprise.

Waiting for him in the mixed zone was a third prize: a Neymar shirt, personally dedicated. The Brazilian had asked journalist Isabela Pagliari to deliver it during her visit to Munich, a quiet nod from one superstar to a player rapidly entering that conversation.

For Olise, it meant more than a simple swap. He has often named Neymar, along with Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane, as his footballing idols. Neymar’s peak came in the colours of Barcelona; now 34, he is winding down at hometown club Santos. From Brazil to Bavaria, the line of admiration suddenly felt a little more direct.

A season catching fire

Right now, Olise is operating at a frightening level. This was only his seventh competitive game of the season, yet it was already the fourth time he had been named best player on the pitch. The numbers back up the eye test: 11 goal involvements so far, averaging one every 51 minutes. Those are elite figures.

Harry Kane, who has played with some of the game’s biggest names, did not hold back.

"I really enjoy playing with Michael, and I also like him a lot as a person," Kane said. "Not everyone gets to see his true personality, but he is a great character. He is completely different from how he appears to outsiders."

That last line matters. Olise is known as media-shy, almost allergic to the spotlight that his performances now demand. After dismantling Union, he declined a TV interview with Sky. Jamal Musiala stepped in, grinning as he did so. "That’s what I’m here for," his friend joked, happy to front up while Olise stayed in the background.

On the pitch, though, there is nowhere to hide. Defenders can’t get near him, and people at the top of the club are starting to talk about him in the grandest terms.

Ballon d’Or talk gathers pace

Board member for sport Max Eberl went there. He put Olise’s name into the Ballon d’Or debate without hesitation.

"For me, Michael Olise is also one of the candidates for the Ballon d’Or. He is one of the best players in the world," Eberl declared.

It is a bold statement, but it no longer sounds outlandish. The usual heavyweights are in the frame: Kane himself, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Rodri. Yet Olise’s form, his numbers, and now his growing aura are forcing people to redraw the shortlist.

A hat-trick, two assists, a match ball, a trophy and a shirt from Neymar. If this is just the start of his season, the real question is how far this surge can carry him — and how long anyone can keep his name out of the game’s biggest individual prize.