How Tanner Tessmann’s ‘Never-Quit Mentality' has Helped Him at Lyon, USMNT

Tanner Tessmann knows how to excel in pressure moments; in fact, it’s where he found his confidence. 

Before he became a contributing factor with Olympique Lyon, before he represented the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and before he was voted as the 2024 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year — he learned most about himself in his early career when his club, Venezia, got relegated.

In Tessmann’s first season in Europe, Venezia was demoted from Serie A to Serie B. Then the club found itself at risk of relegation again at the bottom of the table, but the Italian side turned the tide and made the playoffs in 2023. Tessmann was just 19 years old when he transferred from FC Dallas in MLS, and that experience changed him. 

“I think that year, that confidence really boosted me into just believing that whatever situation we're in or whatever team I'm in, I can always try to rise to the top and help the team the best I can,” he said. “It's just a never-quit mentality of going in and knowing that it's never finished, and there's always more games to play, and have that faith and belief in yourself.”

That mentality has served him well in his two seasons at Lyon, when he joined in 2024. The club finished sixth in Ligue 1 while Tessmann appeared in 35 matches, scoring a goal in his first season in France. Still, there was the looming threat of relegation again. In July, the club’s demotion to Ligue 2 due to financial issues was overturned. Women’s soccer leader, Michele Kang, took over as president in June. Tessmann commended Kang’s efforts in helping Lyon stay the course. 

Off-the-pitch issues haven’t stopped Tessmann from starting the new season firing on all cylinders. The center midfielder has appeared in nine games so far and already scored two goals. 

“I think our team has no big star,” Tessmann said. “We’re all younger kids trying to make our way and find our careers. I think we just have a really hungry team that wants to show what it’s like to play at a big club and play in big competitions, and we want to bring Lyon back to the [UEFA] Champions League. 

Currently, Lyon sits No. 4 in the 2025-26 Ligue 1 table in contention for Champions League qualifiers. Winning the UEFA Europa League could also guarantee a UCL spot. Tessmann scored one of his two goals this season in the Europa competition. In Lyon’s opening match, the American slammed home the game-winner in the 75th minute over FC Utrecht.

Tessmann said the success looked like it happened overnight, but in actuality, it was a long year. 

During that span, Tessmann appeared in five USMNT matches under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The 24-year-old midfielder last got a call-up in March during the Concacaf Nations League. However, he held onto his mentality of never counting himself out and earned another opportunity to impress Pochettino ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

Tessmann has experience representing the Stars and Stripes on the world stage as he captained the U-23 MNT to the first Olympic knockout round in 24 years. With the two

October matches against Ecuador and Australia, Tessmann looks propel himself into the World Cup roster discussion. 

With heavy competition, it’s no easy path. As he’s shown his entire career, Tessmann isn’t one to back down from a challenge. 

“We want to be the best National Team and fight to win the World Cup, and with that comes a lot of competition in the team,” Tessmann said. “Each time you're in camp, you have to make the most of it and try to fight your way into the next one.”