Most 15-year-olds around the world are trying their best to get through school. But Martin Ødegaard is not just another ordinary 15-year-old. On Monday, barely a couple of months after he became the youngest-ever player to play for the Norwegian national team, Ødegaard came on as a second-half substitute to break the record for the youngest player to appear in a European Championship. So who is Ødegaard, why do the European giants want him? Is he the next Lionel Messi?
Born in Drammen, Norway in 1998, Martin Ødegaard is the son of former footballer Hans Erik Ødegaard, who is currently the assistant manager of Mjøndalen IF. So it was no surprise to see him take to football at a very young age. He started his career in Strømsgodset’s junior team, before quickly progressing through to the first team at the tender age of 14.
Even before he turned 15, he had trials at Bayern Munich and Manchester United. Ødegaard made his first-team debut against Aalesunds FK on 13th April 2014 at the tender age of 15, becoming the youngest-ever player to appear in the Norwegian League. Even before he turned 15, he signed a two-year contract with Strømsgodset and made his European debut a few months later. He has already made his debut for the Norwegian U-17, U-21 and senior team in 2014.
Although he is primarily used as an attacking midfielder, the 15-year-old is versatile enough to play anywhere in attack. Comparisons have been made with Lionel Messi, due to his similar stature and ability to breeze past opponents. Ødegaard is at his best when used centrally as an attacking midfielder, where he can make the best use of his technical ability to either find his teammate up front or shoot from distance. One of the important characteristics of the talented teenager is that he is not only fleet of foot, but of mind as well.
For all of his talent and ability on the ball, if there is one thing that the attacking midfielder has to improve upon, it is his physique. Although he is only 15, he is outmuscled far too often and he needs to bulk up if he needs to succeed at the highest level.
Although he has a two-year contract with his current club, he has already refused the advances of Manchester United, who tried to sign him on deadline day. Aside from United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on this prodigiously gifted 15-year-old. While it is true that he is fan of Liverpool, he has already maintained that he is going to honour his current contract.
At the tender age of 15, Martin Ødegaard has already accomplished things that most professional footballers don’t do in their entire careers. If he is truly fulfil his potential and develop into one of the finest footballers of his generation, the attacking midfielder needs to stay grounded and in his current club for at least a few years and work on his physique. If he does, then there is no doubt that he has the talent to be the future of Norwegian for close to two decades.
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