Olympique Lyonnais striker Alexandre Lacazette has entered the history of the club with 150 goals in 303 games. Can he break the record of the legendary Fleury Di Nallo?
Entering the History Books: How Lacazette became the second most prolific OL player
On Friday, March 18th, 2023, Alexandre Lacazette made history by scoring his 150th goal for Olympique Lyonnais as he returns to the form that saw Arsenal fork out €53m for him in 2017.
The French striker’s equalising goal against Nantes (1-1) in Ligue 1 has now made him the second most prolific scorer in the club’s history, surpassing Bernard Lacombe’s record of 149 goals in 230 games.
Lacazette’s goal-scoring prowess has earned him the admiration of Olympique Lyonnais fans and the attention of other European clubs. The 31-year-old’s achievement of 150 goals in 303 games is all the more impressive considering that he has often played as a lone striker and has had to carry the weight of the team’s attacking responsibilities on his shoulders.
The legacy of Fleury Di Nallo: Can Lacazette break the record?
However, as impressive as Lacazette’s record is, he still has some way to go before he can claim the title of Olympique Lyonnais’ all-time leading scorer. Fleury Di Nallo’s record of 222 goals is a testament to his longevity and consistency over a period of more than a decade. Breaking Di Nallo’s record would be a monumental achievement for Lacazette, but it is by no means an impossible feat.
Lacazette’s contribution to Olympique Lyonnais goes beyond just scoring goals. He is also a leader on and off the pitch, and his experience and professionalism have helped guide the club’s young players.
A comparison with other prolific Ligue 1 strikers
Lacazette’s success at Olympique Lyonnais has also drawn comparisons with other prolific Ligue 1 strikers, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani.
However, it is worth noting that Lacazette’s record of 150 goals has been achieved in a significantly shorter period of time than both Ibrahimovic and Cavani.
Alexandre Lacazette at Arsenal
Alexandre Lacazette joined Arsenal in July 2017, becoming the club’s record signing at the time for a fee of €53 million. During his time at Arsenal, he was a consistent scorer, regularly featuring in the starting XI and forming a strong partnership with fellow striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Lacazette’s first season at Arsenal was relatively successful, scoring 17 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions.
His second season saw him score 19 goals, with 13 assists in 49 appearances.
In his third season at Arsenal, Lacazette faced increased competition from new signings, and managerial changes and his performances suffered as a result. He scored only 12 goals (seven assist) in 39 appearances across all competitions, and his future at the club came under question.
However, despite rumours of a potential transfer, Lacazette stayed at Arsenal for the 2020-2021 season and regained some of his form under new manager Mikel Arteta. He scored 17 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions, including a crucial goal in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
His final season, however, saw an awful return from the Frenchman with just six goals, and eight assists, from 36 games.
He left to join Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2022 on a free transfer, leaving London with a club total of 71 goals and 36 assists in 206 games.