Eugénie Le Sommer: Lyon star reaches club milestone | OneFootball

Eugénie Le Sommer reached 400 appearances for Lyon in Tuesday’s UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) match against Benfica. The remarkable milestone is just one of many in Le Sommer’s decorated career.

Having achieved a quadricentennial of appearances for her club, the French international joined Lyon over a decade ago. She has influenced their success, playing a vital role as the No.9.

Success with Lyon

At 34, Le Sommer is enjoying an extremely successful career. She moved to Lyon in 2010 and soon became a fan favourite. Despite a loan spell at OL Reign in 2021/22, she still thrives at Lyon almost 14 years after her debut.

During these years, her success has been tremendous. She has achieved 12 league titles in France and eight UWCL trophies with Lyon. Joining such a prestigious side was clearly a smart move for her professional career.

In 2020, she opened the scoring in Lyon’s 3-1 win against Wolfsburg in the UCWL Final. The victory marked the club’s seventh — and fifth consecutive — tournament title. Le Sommer contributed to all seven victories.

Her clinical finishes and pace upfront make her the perfect number nine. Even now, Le Sommer remains an irreplaceable member of head coach Sonia Bompastor’s matchday squad.

Embed from Getty Images

National team contributions

Since her senior debut in 2009 against the Republic of Ireland, Le Sommer has earned 190 caps for the French national team. Her first senior international goal came less than a month after her debut, in a match against Scotland.

The French Women’s Player of the Year award is also recognised twice to her name. She achieved this prize in 2010 and 2015.

In fact, head coach Hervé Renard mentioned last summer that he sees Le Sommer as one of the best strikers in the world — ahead of the renowned Matildas star Sam Kerr. He believes she is difficult to dispossess in the box and an unstoppable finisher. Hence, she has also worn the captain’s armband on several occasions.

Embed from Getty Images

At present, she is France’s top goalscorer of all time among male and female players. She has netted 94 senior goals internationally, and some major tournaments are on the horizon.

Future goals

After more than a decade of success with Lyon and Les Bleues, what is next for the French international?

Lyon are currently competing in the Champions League quarter-final stage and sit at the top of Division 1 Féminine. Le Sommer is a role model to her younger teammates and motivates them to keep their eyes on the prize. Her enthusiasm for success always stays strong.

Embed from Getty Images

On the back of a successful UEFA Women’s Nations League run, falling short of a win to Spain, Le Sommer is closing in on her 200th international cap. However, a century of goals for France is also on the horizon. With the Olympics on home soil this summer, Le Sommer will be hungry for more international silverware. Next year also marks the return of the UEFA Women’s European Championships. With a tough qualifying group of France, England, Sweden, and Ireland, she will be determined to shine again for her nation.

MORE from Her Football Hub: