Fermín López and Michael Olise have been pivotal in leading Spain and France to the final of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Both players have contributed to six goals for their respective teams, the highest in the tournament alongside Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi. López boasts four goals and two assists, while Olise has netted two goals and provided four assists, making them crucial in breaking through tough matches.

Spain and France, coached by Santi Denia and Thierry Henry respectively, rely heavily on these midfield maestros who play with freedom and creativity.

Fermín López, fresh off winning the Euro 2024 with Spain on July 14, is chasing a double triumph. He has been instrumental in the knockout stages, scoring three goals and providing one assist. In fact, he’s been involved in four of Spain's five goals against Japan and Morocco, underscoring his indispensability.

Playing as a free-roaming midfielder under Santi Denia, López combines defensive tenacity with a knack for scoring from long range. Two of his four goals have come from outside the box, showcasing his shooting prowess. “Coaches ask me to shoot. I have a good strike, and I practice it in training,” López said after his brace against Japan.

According to BeSoccer data for EFE, López ranks sixth in shots on target at these Olympics, averaging 1.35 shots per game. He’s the top midfielder in this regard and a consistent starter for Spain. Excluding penalties, which boost Rahimi's tally, López is the top scorer, contributing to Spain’s medal assurance and their shot at gold in Paris on August 9.

On the other side, France has found a game-changer in Michael Olise. Without stars like Mbappé and Griezmann, Olise, set to join Bayern Munich next season for €53 million from Crystal Palace, has stepped up as the leader. At Palace, he averaged a goal or assist every 80 minutes, and he carried this form into the Olympics, with six goals and two assists in his last six matches.

Henry has deployed Olise as an attacking midfielder, a role that maximizes his playmaking abilities. In this position, Olise has the highest rate of passes leading to shots in the tournament, averaging 3.24 per game, with 2.43 of those passes going into the penalty area. This has resulted in four assists, benefiting especially from his synergy with former Palace teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has scored four goals, two assisted by Olise.

Wearing the number 7 jersey, Olise brings a unique vision to the French game, which has often struggled to dominate. His creativity and Fermín’s scoring ability are key to their teams' chances of winning gold. Unless another player shines spectacularly in the final, López and Olise are also the frontrunners for the tournament’s best player award.