With 85 goals, Ossola is the ninth-highest scorer in the history of Torino behind Adolfo Baloncieri (100).

Noticed as a young boy by the coach of Varese, Antonio Janni, he played for the senior team in Serie C. Initially, Janni did not allow him to play as he intended to sell him to Serie A club Torino, but was forced to send him on the pitch because of a starting player's injury.

Early in his career at Torino, he suffered from the presence of Pietro Ferraris, who occupied the left wing.

He eventually became a starter with the number 11 jersey, and played 181 games and scored 85 goals in Serie A, the 1944 Campionato Alta Italia and the National Division.

Franco Ossola was played by Gualtiero Burzi in the television miniseries The Grande Torino.