Tanner Tessmann will sit out Lyon's final two Ligue 1 matches after sustaining a muscle strain, manager Paulo Fonseca confirmed Friday. The injury threatens the American midfielder's preparations ahead of the World Cup this summer, where he has been considered a frontline candidate for the USMNT's starting midfield.
Fonseca disclosed the news during his pre-match press conference before Lyon's fixture against Toulouse, where USMNT teammate Mark McKenzie plays. The Portuguese manager was brief in his assessment: "Tanner has a muscle strain. He won't play again until the end of the season. Everyone else is ready." Tessmann will miss Lyon's encounters with Toulouse and Lens as the club pursues a Champions League qualification spot from third place in the table.
Tessmann's Season at Lyon
The 23-year-old has been a workhorse for Lyon this campaign, appearing in 29 Ligue 1 encounters despite diminished minutes in recent weeks. Beyond domestic league duty, Tessmann featured three times in the Coupe de France and nine occasions in the Europa League, including a crucial goal against FC Utrecht in September. His flexibility—deployed as both a defensive midfielder and makeshift centre-back—has made him valuable despite reduced game time of late.
Tessmann's international profile has strengthened considerably. He registered six appearances for the USMNT in 2025, starting against Ecuador and Paraguay, and netted in a dominant 5-1 victory over Uruguay. This year, he has already featured in matches against Belgium and Portugal, underlining his status as a midfielder in Gregg Berhalter's plans.
Injury Concerns Cloud USMNT Midfield Depth
Tessmann's setback compounds mounting injury worries for the USMNT. Atletico Madrid's Johnny Cardoso recently suffered an ankle injury with weeks remaining before the tournament, creating uncertainty in a midfield department already dependent on mainstay Tyler Adams. Both Tessmann and Cardoso have been earmarked as starters alongside Adams, meaning fitness becomes critical as the squad announcement approaches on May 26 in New York City.
The timing is unfortunate. The USMNT faces warmup friendlies against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6, before opening World Cup play against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium. Tessmann's recovery window is narrow, and his absence from Lyon's final matches limits his match sharpness heading into tournament preparation.
