Tanner Tessmann is at a moment that could define the direction of his career. At 24, he’s established himself at Olympique Lyonnais and is earning his way back into the United States men’s national soccer team just as the final stretch of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins. He’s arrived here because of what he does on the field, not what’s said around him.
Roots built in a tough environment
Tessmann’s confidence didn’t come from smooth seasons. At 19, he joined Venezia FC and stepped straight into a relegation fight in Serie A. The team went down in his first year and battled to survive in the second. That’s where he learned what it really means to compete with everything on the line.
“I think that year, that confidence really pushed me to believe that no matter the situation we’re in or the team I’m with, I can always try to rise to the top and help the team in the best way I can,” he said. “It’s just a never-give-up mindset, going out there knowing it’s never over, there are always more games to play, and having faith and believing in yourself.”
Lyon on the rise, Tessmann on the radar
Lyon went through a rocky stretch before finding some stability with Michele Kang’s arrival. While the club was sorting itself out, Tessmann delivered on the field. Nine matches, two goals, and a steady presence in key games have put him in the spotlight. “I think our team doesn’t have any big star,” he said. “We’re all young, trying to carve our own path and build our careers. I think we just have a really hungry team that wants to show what it’s like to play for a big club and compete in big tournaments, and we want to bring Lyon back to the Champions League.”
Lyon currently sits fourth in Ligue 1 and is fighting for a Champions League spot. In the Europa League, the American midfielder scored the winner against FC Utrecht in the 75th minute. That was no accident.
With five caps under Mauricio Pochettino, Tessmann has been called up again by the USMNT for friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. His last appearance came in the Concacaf Nations League. He also captained the U-23 team that took the U.S. back to an Olympic knockout stage for the first time in over two decades.