Happy Birthday, Corentin Tolisso!
Olympique Lyonnais captain Corentin Tolisso celebrates his 32nd birthday this Monday. He was once just an academy prospect, but has gone to the lengths of becoming a world and European champion throughout his illustrious career. But there was always home, and that home was Olympique Lyonnais where he is leading the club as captain into yet another season.
Born in Tarare on 3 August 1994, Tolisso joined the Olympique Lyonnais academy at the age of 13 after beginning his footballing journey with local clubs Stade Amplepuisien and FC Pays de L’Arbresle.
He made his Ligue 1 debut against OGC Nice in August 2013 and quickly established himself as one of the leading players from another exciting generation of Lyon academy graduates. Alongside the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Anthony Lopes, Nabil Fekir and Samuel Umtiti, Tolisso helped keep OL competing near the top of the French game and regularly qualifying for European competition.
Tolisso eventually found his home in midfield after initially being used at several positions including out wide and even at right-back. His running power, aerial ability and eye for goal made him an increasingly important figure at the heart of the Lyon side.
His final campaign before leaving France was his most productive. Tolisso registered 14 goals and seven assists across all competitions during the 2016/17 season, helping Lyon reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League.
Those performances earned him a move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2017. During five seasons in Germany, the midfielder won five consecutive Bundesliga titles and lifted the UEFA Champions League as part of Bayern’s historic treble-winning team in 2020.
Tolisso also became a world champion with France in 2018. He featured five times during Les Bleus’ successful campaign in Russia, including starts against Australia and Uruguay, before coming off the bench during the final victory over Croatia. The midfielder has earned 28 senior international caps and scored twice for his country.
Captain of his boyhood club
After collecting almost every major honour available during his time in Munich, Tolisso returned to Lyon on a free transfer in the summer of 2022. His first seasons back in Ligue 1 were disrupted by physical problems, but the academy graduate gradually rediscovered his best level. Given greater attacking responsibility, he once again became a regular source of goals while providing experience and leadership to an evolving Lyon squad.
Following Lacazette’s departure in 2025, Tolisso inherited the captain’s armband and became the senior figure at the centre of the team. His influence was evident throughout the 2025/26 campaign as OL secured a return to UEFA Champions League qualifying.
He also reached a significant personal landmark in April, scoring his 40th Ligue 1 goal for Lyon. Only Serge Chiesa, Juninho Pernambucano and Alain Caveglia have scored more league goals among midfielders in the club’s history.
Tolisso extended his contract with his home club this summer until 2029. The Lyon captain will continue to be the link between OL’s celebrated academy tradition and the club’s present, and future.
Happy birthday, Corentin Tolisso!
