Internationally recognized for the quality of its training center, Olympique Lyonnais (OL) has been supplying rough diamonds to major European clubs such as world champions Samuel Umtiti, Nabil Fekir and Corentin Tolisso for years.
Some, however promising a bright future, do not resist the polishing phase, but many manage to establish themselves abroad despite some air pockets, such as Hatem Ben Arfa, Loïc Rémy or Anthony Martial.
Combine between the greats
But despite a seemingly inexhaustible pool of nuggets – there are currently more than thirty in a first division professional club – no one has so far won the highest individual recognition: the Golden Ball. . Beyond the frequent controversies about his attribution and the interest in distinguishing a single player in an eminently collective sport, several Lyonese have appeared in the list of contenders.
The first is none other than Nestor Combin, Argentine by birth but Lyonnais at heart, twice nominated in 1964 – after allowing OL to win its first Coupe de France thanks to a double in the final – and in 1967 after leaving for Juventus and then Turin. His teammate Jean Djorkaeff, coached at OL and also titled in 1964, would have imitated him in 1970 after his departure for OM and then for PSG.
Eastern Lyon in the spotlight
Jean Tigana will follow in 1984 (2And behind Platini) and in 1986, several years after his departure from OL for Bordeaux in 1981, then Luis Fernandez in 1985 and 1986 at PSG and then at Matra Racing. If the latter has never worn the Lyon shirt, he signed that of Minguettes – where he grew up – then that of AS Saint-Priest.
9And then 11And place for Youri Djorkaeff in 1996 then in 1997 – at PSG and then at Inter. The child from Décines also never played at OL, but in his youth he scoured the clubs of the metropolis, from UGA to Asvel via AS Saint-Priest and US Meyzieu.
Prior to their brief stint in Lyon during the seven-title streak in a row, Giovane Elber (2001) and Milan Baros (2004) will also appear at the center of the list. On the other hand, it has been many years since his departure from OL in 1998 that Ludovic Giuly – who returned to the club this summer as part of the coaching staff – carved out his place among the best footballers in the world in 2004.
Juninho placed, Benzema used to
Considered one of the best footballers of all time, if not the best, Juninho will do no better than 12And in 2005 and 20And in 2006. Lyon’s 2005 European epic, unfortunately interrupted in Eindhoven, will also earn Ghanaian Michael Essien a nomination, then another in 2007 after his departure for Chelsea. The same year it is Frédéric Kanouté, trained at the OL where he played from 1997 to 2000, to shine reaching 11And place in the standings, between Totti and Ronaldinho, excuse the little one, in the shirt of Sevilla FC.
Read also Tribune de Lyon: Laurent Blanc will succeed Peter Bosz as OL coach
Before the surge in Benzema, systematically named since 2011 with two exceptions, and even 4And last year Yoann Gourcuff will emerge at 20And place in 2009 with Bordeaux, one year before his arrival in OL. Trained in La Duchère before shining in Lyon during the prosperous years, Éric Abidal will also make an appearance in 2011 with the colors of FC Barcelona. Hugo Lloris will also be nominated without receiving a single vote in 2016 and 2018 for his performances with the French team at the Euro and the World Cup, many years after his departure from OL (2012). Finally, for the wink, the new OL manager Laurent Blanc also won the Ballon d’Or in 1991, 1998 and 2000.
Women save honor
But waiting for tonight’s ceremony, the only OL player to have won the globe is a player: it is the Norwegian Ada Hegerberg in 2018, on the occasion of the very first edition of the women’s trophy. She winner in front of six of her teammates (Maroszan, Bronze, Henry, Renard, Kumagai and Majri), she finished 4And the following year behind a former Lyonnais, the American Megan Rapinoe, and a teammate at the time, the English Lucy Bronze. Finally, in 2021, only Christiane Endler (12And) and Wendie Renard (20And) had risen in the standings, after a white season.
Tonight there are still five Lyonnais to claim the Grail: Selma Bacha, Christiane Endler, Wendie Renard, Ada Hegerberg and Catarina Macario, to which we could add the former fenottes Lucy Bronze and Alex Morgan.
Did you like this article? Read on and take advantage of all our articles by subscribing to the Tribune de Lyon for 4.9 euros per month. To get to know us better, you can also subscribe for free to our weekly newsletter.
