Tolisso’s Fifty: Lyon Captain Reaches Landmark in Nice Victory

Corentin Tolisso brought up his 50th goal for Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday night, marking the milestone with a decisive contribution against OGC Nice.

Returning after four matches out injured, the Lyon captain was understandably short of rhythm. There were heavy touches and moments where Nice’s pressing unsettled him in midfield. But leaders are defined by their impact in decisive moments — and once again, Tolisso delivered.

Positioning himself at the back post just before half-time, the No.8 met Abner Vinícius’ cross with composure to open the scoring at the Groupama Stadium. The move had been building fluently down the right, with Tanner Tessmann driving forward and Pavel Šulc attacking the near post, drawing defenders away and freeing space for Tolisso to strike. Reflecting on the goal post-match, Tolisso explained:

“I watched it back and had forgotten I started the move. When I saw Tanner advancing and Abner overlapping, I knew he would pass it to him. Pavel attacked the near post, I went to the far post. The coach often tells us there are chances at the back post. The ball was slightly deflected and I could finish.”

A landmark moment in Lyon colours

With that strike, Tolisso reached the symbolic 50-goal mark for Olympique Lyonnais. He now sits alongside Jean-Pierre Orts and Florian Maurice in the club’s scoring history — the latter present in Décines in his role as Nice sporting director.

Just one goal now separates Tolisso from Maxwel Cornet in OL’s rankings. To enter the club’s all-time top 20 goalscorers, he needs 14 more to surpass Alain Caveglia — a target that no longer feels distant given his current influence. 

An academy product-turned-hero

Born in nearby Tarare, Tolisso joined the OL academy as a teenager and made his senior debut in 2013. Under Rémi Garde, he initially featured as a versatile defensive option, even filling in at right-back, before establishing himself as a dynamic box-to-box midfielder.

His breakthrough came during the 2014–15 campaign, when Lyon finished second in Ligue 1. Tolisso’s energy, tactical intelligence and eye for goal quickly made him indispensable. By the 2016–17 season, he was one of the standout performers in a side that reached the Europa League semi-finals, showcasing his ability to influence matches on the European stage.

Record departure — and return

In 2017, Tolisso became Lyon’s record sale when he joined FC Bayern Munich. His spell in Germany brought major honours, including the Bundesliga title and the Champions League, but injuries disrupted his momentum.

In 2022, he returned to Olympique Lyonnais on a free transfer, a homecoming that carried both emotional weight and expectation. Initially, his second spell was hampered by physical setbacks and instability at club level. Yet as Lyon sought leaders during transitional seasons, Tolisso increasingly embraced responsibility.

Reaching 50 goals places him among a select group in OL’s history — a midfielder whose contribution spans two eras and whose legacy continues to grow.

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