2025-10-08 14:48:41
Ryan Tolmich’I can be the one that makes the difference’ – Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann is the USMNT’s most in-form star, no longer a passenger but now in the driver’s seatEXCLUSIVE: GOAL sat down with the USMNT midfielder to discuss fatherhood, World Cup ambitions and his incredible form for LyonAUSTIN, Texas -Tanner Tessmann is the U.S. men’s national team’s most in-form player, but in his view, it didn’t start on the field. Parts of it did, sure. A tackle here, a goal there, a series of big wins with one of the biggest clubs in France. Those performances have continued to change the perception of him and his game.But the the catalyst wasn’t some magical flip of the switch on the training field, or even in the film room. For Tessmann, form begins at home. It begins with comfort and stability. It begins with happiness. It begins with faith. And, for this specific run, perhaps the most important of his career so far, it begins with fatherhood.”Life’s changed,” Tessmann tells GOAL from the U.S. men’s national team’s hotel for the October camp, “but it’s all changed in a good way.”In April, just weeks after the USMNT’s wake-up-call losses in the CONCACAF Nation’s League, Tessmann welcomed his son into the world. Life since, he says, has been constant series of changes and stresses, personally and professionally. He was left out of Mauricio Pochettino’s Gold Cup squad this summer, freeing him up to do an American tour to introduce his son to the his family.Summer was spent following news of out Lyon, as the club were saved, relegated, then saved again to keep their place in Ligue 1, ultimately allowing Tessmann to stay in France. Then, when September camp rolled around, Tessmann was again left out of the USMNT squad, adding fuel to a fire that had been building, internally, since the spring.He’s back now, and as a different version of himself. Fatherhood has changed him, but so has his play. He’s been one of Lyon’s best players, going from afterthought to an important piece. He’s scored big goals and put in big performances, silencing many of the doubters that were questioning what he could offer on both sides of the ball.On the USMNT front, he’s in the process of making himself undeniable, and he’s doing it just months before the World Cup. “You go into that moment just knowing that someone’s got to make the difference,” he says. “Someone’s got to make something happen. I think having that bit of confidence, that support, that life at home. It gives you that belief. I know that, yes, I can be the one that makes the difference and, when those moments come, I’m going to go for it.”Tessmann is going for it now, and he’s more confident than ever as he enters the most important stretch of his career.
Tanner Tessmann’s transformation into the U.S. men’s national team’s most dynamic midfielder has been fueled as much by emotional shifts as tactical evolution. The arrival of his son in April marked a turning point, reshaping his priorities and instilling a deeper sense of purpose. Fatherhood, he admits, brought structure and calm to his life, grounding him amid the turbulence of a career in soccer. “Before, I might’ve doubted myself in high-pressure moments,” Tessmann reflects. “Now, I look at my son and realize I have to lead, to be the example he sees. That’s carried over to how I play.” The personal stakes elevated his professional determination, erasing complacency and sharpening his focus.
On the field, Tessmann’s role at Lyon has undergone a dramatic overhaul. Once on the fringes of the squad after the club’s precarious financial and administrative battles, he clawed his way into a pivotal position. Amid Lyon’s roller-coaster journey—avoiding relegation in court, enduring managerial changes, and fighting for Ligue 1 survival—Tessmann became a stabilizing force. His box-to-box energy, defensive grit, and composure in tight matches caught the attention of fans and coaches alike. A stunning volley against Marseille in September and a man-of-the-match display against Monaco showcased his attacking threat, while his relentless pressing in midfield proved indispensable in Lyon’s quest to climb the table.
The U.S. squad’s snubs in the summer and early fall initially stung, but Tessmann used that as motivation rather than mourning. Training independently to maintain fitness while bonding with his son gave him clarity. “It hurt not being called up, but it let me reset,” he explains. “I’d watch training sessions at home, study how others played, and visualize myself in those spots. When October came, I was ready to prove I belong in that conversation.” His resurgence hasn’t just silenced critics—it’s forced the national team to reconsider his potential as a linchpin. Coach Gregg Berhalter’s camp now buzzes with discussions about harnessing Tessmann’s two-way influence.
Creativity flows through his veins again, a revival he links to the joy and responsibility his family brings. “Faith and family taught me to value every chance,” he says. “You don’t know if it’s your last touch, your last game, or your last talk with your kid. That’s why I give everything—on the pitch, for the team, for him.” With World Cup qualifying looming, Tessmann’s hunger is palpable. He’s no longer competing for a spot; he’s demanding to be counted as a difference-maker. “I thrive in chaos now,” he grins. “Because I know when chaos comes on the field, I’ve already handled something bigger at home. It’s who I am, and I’m ready to make sure everyone sees it.”
