Alexandre Lacazette has drawn lofty parallels between Olympique Lyonnais rising star Rayan Cherki and one of the game’s most renowned creators, Mesut Özil.
In an interview with L’Équipe, the Lyon captain heaped praise on the 20-year-old playmaker, citing his creative flair and growing maturity as signs of a player destined for greatness.
“Already, in everyday life, Rayan is special and different, he has imagination… That’s why, on the pitch, he imagines and sees a lot of things,” Lacazette said. “He is clearly of the same caliber as all the best playmakers I’ve played with. I would maybe put Mesut Özil even higher, but with time Rayan can catch up with him.”
Lacazette, who previously played alongside Özil during his time at Arsenal, acknowledged the scale of the comparison but stopped short of calling it premature.
The former German international, who amassed an astounding 259 assists across 692 professional appearances, remains a benchmark for playmakers worldwide.
Cherki, once seen as an individualist on the pitch, has gradually redefined his game to better serve the collective.
Lacazette noted the transformation, saying: “Before, he [Cherki] played for himself and his teammates. Now he plays with his teammates.” The subtle shift in emphasis speaks volumes about the midfielder’s evolution.
Having spent years under the microscope as one of Lyon’s brightest prospects, Cherki has now stepped confidently into a leadership role within the squad.
His improved decision-making, vision, and ability to read the game have seen him emerge as a technical linchpin for OL—traits that align closely with Özil’s legacy.
While Özil’s style was less about dribbling and more about surgical precision in passing and space creation, Cherki brings his own brand of creativity to the table.
The challenge ahead for the Frenchman will be refining those qualities and pairing them with the kind of consistency that defined the German’s peak years.
With Lacazette’s mentorship and a central role in Lyon’s midfield, Cherki is now in a position to grow into the kind of player his captain believes he can become.
If the young Frenchman can continue building chemistry with his teammates and maintain his current trajectory, comparisons to Özil may not seem so far-fetched after all.
All that remains, as Lacazette cheekily hinted, is for Cherki to “find his Cristiano Ronaldo… or his Thomas Müller.”
