Martin Ødegaard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Martin Ødegaard

Ødegaard with Norway in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth	(1998-12-17) 17 December 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Drammen, Norway
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Arsenal
Number	8
Youth career
2005–2009	Drammen Strong
2009–2014	Strømsgodset
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013	Strømsgodset 3	11	(4)
2013–2014	Strømsgodset 2	5	(1)
2014–2015	Strømsgodset	23	(5)
2015–2017	Real Madrid Castilla	58	(5)
2015–2021	Real Madrid	8	(0)
2017–2018	→ Heerenveen (loan)	38	(2)
2018–2019	→ Vitesse (loan)	31	(8)
2019–2020	→ Real Sociedad (loan)	31	(4)
2021	→ Arsenal (loan)	14	(1)
2021–	Arsenal	138	(33)
International career‡
2013	Norway U15	2	(0)
2013–2014	Norway U16	6	(0)
2014	Norway U17	4	(0)
2014–2018	Norway U21	18	(5)
2014–	Norway	64	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:57, 25 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:48, 6 June 2025 (UTC)

Martin Ødegaard (born 17 December 1998) is a Norwegian professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder and is the captain for both Premier League club Arsenal and the Norway national team. He is known for his great vision and passing skills. Many people consider him one of the best midfielders in the world.

Ødegaard started his senior club career very young, at age 15 in 2014. He played for Strømsgodset in Norway. He became the youngest player to score a goal in Norway's top league, the Tippeligaen. In 2015, he joined Real Madrid, a famous Spanish club. He became their youngest player ever.

After playing only a few games for Real Madrid, Ødegaard went on loan to other clubs. He played for Eredivisie clubs Heerenveen and Vitesse in the Netherlands. He also played for La Liga club Real Sociedad in Spain. With Real Sociedad, he won the Copa del Rey in 2019. In 2021, he joined Arsenal on a temporary loan. Later that year, he signed a permanent deal with Arsenal. In July 2022, he became the captain of Arsenal.

Ødegaard also started playing for the Norway national team at age 15 in 2014. He became the youngest player to play for Norway's senior team. He also set a record as the youngest player to play in a UEFA European Championship qualifying match. In March 2021, he became the full captain of the Norway national team.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Martin Ødegaard was born on 17 December 1998, in Drammen, Norway. He started playing football at a local club called Drammen Strong. His father, Hans Erik Ødegaard, was also a footballer. He helped start a football section at the club and coached Martin's team.

In 2005, when Martin was six, his parents and others helped fund a new artificial turf field for the club. This field was very important for his development. Martin spent many hours practicing there.

Drammen Strong received awards because of Ødegaard's talent. In 2014, they got money when he won the Statoil talent award. Later, in 2015, Strømsgodset Toppfotball gave Drammen Strong a gift. This happened when Ødegaard was sold to Real Madrid.

Club Career Journey

Starting Out in Norway

In 2009, Ødegaard joined the youth team of Strømsgodset. He trained and played with older boys. The Norwegian Football Federation also picked young talents for district teams. Ødegaard played his first games for the Buskerud team in January 2010. He was only 11 years old, and the other players were two or three years older. His coach noticed his brilliant skills and smart play.

For three years, he trained weekly with this team. He often played as a left-back. This position helped him get many touches on the ball. It also made him play against stronger players. When attacking, he had a lot of freedom. Coaches said he could "see solutions and spaces" they hadn't even thought of.

In 2011, at age 12, he impressed former football manager Lars Tjærnås. This was during a tournament for players under 16. Tjærnås said it was clear they were seeing "something out of the ordinary."

Playing for Strømsgodset

Ødegaard started training with the Strømsgodset first team in 2012, when he was 13. He played his first game for the senior team that year in a friendly match. He also had short training visits with big clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester United. In 2013, at 14, Ødegaard played for Strømsgodset's junior team and their third team.

In January 2014, 15-year-old Ødegaard joined Strømsgodset's first team. He did not sign a professional contract yet. League rules said players needed a professional contract to play in the Tippeligaen, Norway's top league. However, he was put on a special list for amateur players. This allowed him to play up to three matches per season. He could not train with Strømsgodset during the day because he was still in school. So, he trained two evenings a week with Mjøndalen IF, where his father was a coach.

He played his first league game for Strømsgodset on 13 April 2014. He was 15 years and 118 days old. This made him the youngest player ever in the Tippeligaen. On 5 May, he signed a professional contract. This removed the three-match limit. Eleven days later, he scored his first professional goal. He became the youngest goalscorer in the Tippeligaen. He scored in a 4–1 win against Sarpsborg 08 FF. He also played in a European match on 16 July.

By late July, his amazing play led to talks about him joining the Norwegian national team. He was involved in all three goals in a match against Sandnes Ulf. Former Norway manager Nils Johan Semb called him "one of the best 15-year-olds in Europe." Ødegaard himself said he would play for Norway if asked.

In a match on 15 August, Ødegaard made three assists for Strømsgodset. On 19 October, he scored two goals in a game for the first time. Strømsgodset finished fourth in the league. Ødegaard scored 5 goals and made 7 assists in 23 league games.

In December 2014, he trained with Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and visited Arsenal's training ground.

Time at Real Madrid

Early Years in Spain

Ødegaard playing for Real Madrid Castilla in 2015

On 21 January 2015, Real Madrid signed Ødegaard from Strømsgodset. He had trained with their senior team earlier that month. Real Madrid announced that Ødegaard would train with both the main team and their reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla. The reserve team was coached by Zinedine Zidane.

He played his first unofficial game for the reserves on 4 February. His official debut for Castilla was on 8 February. On 21 February, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 win.

In April, Ødegaard was temporarily not playing for Castilla. There were some challenges with him training with the first team and playing for the reserves. Also, there was a language barrier. Real Madrid's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, asked fans to be patient. On 23 May, Ødegaard made his debut for Real Madrid's main team. He came on as a substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo in a 7–3 win. He became the youngest player to debut for Real Madrid at 16 years and 157 days old.

Ødegaard played regularly for Castilla during the 2015–16 season. He helped the team finish first in their group. He scored his first goal of that season in a 6–1 win.

He made his first start for Real Madrid's senior team on 30 November 2016. This was 679 days after he first signed. He played the whole game in a 6–1 win in the Copa del Rey.

Loan Spells in Europe

On 10 January 2017, Ødegaard joined Dutch club SC Heerenveen on an 18-month loan. He made his debut four days later. His start at Heerenveen was slow, but he scored his first goal for them on 18 May.

In the 2017–18 season, Ødegaard became a regular starter. He scored his first regular-season goal for Heerenveen on 18 November 2017.

On 21 August 2018, Real Madrid loaned Ødegaard again. He joined another Dutch club, SBV Vitesse, for the 2018–19 season. He scored 11 goals and made 12 assists that season. Fans also voted him as the club's player of the year.

On 5 July 2019, he was loaned to Real Sociedad in Spain for one season. Real Madrid could choose to bring him back or extend the loan. On 25 August, he scored his first goal in La Liga for Real Sociedad. On 14 September, he scored his second goal in a 2–0 win against Atletico Madrid. He was named the best player of the match. He also made his first assist with a great pass. In September 2019, Ødegaard was named La Liga Player of the Month.

Ødegaard with Real Madrid in 2020

In February 2020, he scored against Real Madrid. This helped his loan club knock his parent club out of the 2019–20 Copa del Rey. Real Sociedad reached the final of the competition. They also qualified for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League. This was a very successful season for Ødegaard. He missed the end of the season due to a tendon problem.

After his loan, Real Madrid called him back in 2020. Ødegaard started their first game of the 2020–21 La Liga season. On 25 November, he played his first Champions League game for Real Madrid.

Joining Arsenal

Loan and Permanent Move

After playing only nine games for Real Madrid in the first half of the 2020–21 season, Ødegaard wanted to leave. He wanted to play more often. On 27 January 2021, Ødegaard joined English Premier League club Arsenal on loan. He stayed until the end of the season. He liked Arsenal's plans and playing style. He felt it was a club that suited him well. Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, believed Ødegaard would improve their attack.

Three days after signing, he made his debut against Manchester United. On 14 February, he made his first league start for Arsenal. On 11 March, Ødegaard scored his first goal for Arsenal. It was a 20-yard shot in a 3–1 win against Olympiacos in the Europa League. This goal was later voted Arsenal's Goal of the Month. On 14 March, he scored his first Premier League goal. This was in Arsenal's 2–1 win against Tottenham Hotspur. Ødegaard was voted Arsenal's Player of the Month for March 2021.

Becoming Arsenal Captain

Ødegaard (left) playing for Arsenal in 2021

On 20 August 2021, Arsenal announced they had signed Ødegaard permanently. He signed a four-year deal. He made his first appearance of the season in a 5–0 loss to Manchester City. He scored his first goal of the season with a free kick in a 1–0 win against Burnley. On 18 December, he made his first assist of the season. He ended the month with three goals and three assists. He was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award. Arsenal finished fifth in the league that season.

Ødegaard with Arsenal in 2022

After the previous captains left, Mikel Arteta named Ødegaard as the new captain for Arsenal. This was before the 2022–23 season. He played his first game as captain in a 2–0 win against Crystal Palace. On 21 August 2022, Ødegaard scored two goals in a win against Bournemouth. On 12 November, he scored two more goals against Wolves. This helped Arsenal stay at the top of the league.

Ødegaard (right) playing for Arsenal at the 2023 MLS All-Star Game

On Boxing Day, Ødegaard made two assists in Arsenal's first match after the World Cup. Arsenal won 3–1 against West Ham. Ødegaard won the Premier League Player of the Month award for November/December 2022. He was the first Arsenal player to win it since September 2019. On 15 January 2023, Ødegaard's goal helped Arsenal win 2–0 against Tottenham Hotspur. This was Arsenal's first away win against their rivals in the Premier League since 2014. On 13 March, he won the Premier League Player of the Year award at the London Football Awards. On 2 May, Ødegaard scored two goals against Chelsea, leading his team to a 3–1 victory. At the end of the season, Ødegaard was voted Arsenal Player of the Season. He was also nominated for other top awards and named in the PFA Team of the Year.

On 21 August 2023, Ødegaard scored the only goal from a penalty against Crystal Palace. This was his first penalty attempt in a league match since May 2019. On 20 September, Ødegaard scored his first Champions League goal. This was in a 4–0 win over PSV Eindhoven. It was Arsenal's first Champions League appearance since 2017. On 22 September, Ødegaard signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal. He said it was an "easy decision" and he had found a place to call home.

On 11 February 2024, in a 6–0 win against West Ham, Ødegaard made history. He completed over 100 passes, created at least five chances, and assisted multiple goals in one Premier League match. On 12 March, he helped Arsenal reach the Champions League quarter-finals. This was for the first time in 14 years. He assisted Arsenal's equalizing goal. On 23 April, Ødegaard played a key role in a 5–0 win against Chelsea. He assisted two goals. He ended the 2023–24 season with the most chances created from open play in the Premier League. Ødegaard was confirmed as Arsenal's Player of the Season for the second year in a row.

International Career for Norway

Youth Teams

Martin Ødegaard played for the Norway national under-15 team in September 2013. They won both matches against Sweden.

He then played for the Norway national under-16 team in a tournament in Turkey in January 2014. He played all 90 minutes in three matches.

He was moved up to the Norway national under-17 team in February 2014. He came on as a substitute and helped Norway win. He started in the next three matches for the U17 team.

In September 2014, he was chosen for the Norway national under-21 team. He played the full match against Portugal. He was named Man of the Match, even though Norway lost 2–1.

He was an unused substitute for the senior team in September 2015. The next day, he joined the under-21 team for a match against England. He played the whole game, which Norway lost 1–0.

Senior National Team

Ødegaard on his competitive debut for Norway in 2014

On 19 August 2014, Ødegaard was called up to the senior Norway team. He played in a friendly match against the United Arab Emirates on 27 August. He played the entire game, which ended in a 0–0 draw. At 15 years and 253 days old, he became the youngest player to ever play for Norway's senior team.

On 30 September 2014, he was called up for Norway's UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches. He made his first competitive appearance in a match against Bulgaria. He came on as a substitute in a 2–1 win. At 15 years and 300 days old, he became the youngest player to play in a European Championship qualifier.

On 29 March 2015, Ødegaard became the youngest player to start a European Championship qualifier. He was 16 years and 101 days old. On 8 June, he was the best player in Norway's 0–0 friendly draw with Sweden. Norway finished third in their qualification group. Ødegaard was in the squad for a play-off against Hungary. Norway lost the play-off.

After 18 months without playing for the national team, Ødegaard's good form for Heerenveen earned him a recall. He played his 10th game for Norway in November 2017. On 7 June 2019, Ødegaard scored his first international goal against Romania. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.

In March 2021, Ødegaard was named the captain for the national team by the new manager Ståle Solbakken.

Playing Style

Ødegaard is known as a "modern" playmaker. He has a great touch, excellent technique, and strong dribbling skills. He also has amazing vision and can pass the ball very well. He can deliver precise, bending passes from free kicks and other set pieces. Because he is left-footed and very creative, he is often compared to other attacking midfielders like Mesut Özil and Guti.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Ødegaard's football intelligence. He can find open spaces on the field. Arteta also noted his incredible work-rate. Ødegaard is a hardworking player who helps his team win the ball back. He has been one of the most effective players at pressing the opponent in his loan spells with Real Sociedad and Arsenal.

When he was younger, Ødegaard was seen as a football prodigy. A 2014 article described him as a "quick-footed" midfielder with "natural balance, pace and... excellent shooting power." His manager at Strømsgodset, David Nielsen, compared him to David Silva and Lionel Messi. In September 2014, his teammate Morten Gamst Pedersen called Ødegaard the most talented player he had ever seen. He said Ødegaard's knowledge of the game and technical skills were fantastic. Pedersen also mentioned that Ødegaard needed to get stronger physically.

His father, Hans Erik Ødegaard, explained how they worked on his skills. They focused on his first and second touch to control the ball quickly. This helped him change direction fast. Even if he was physically weaker, he could get away from opponents.

After Ødegaard signed for Real Madrid at 16, a football scout named Tor-Kristian Karlsen praised his mindset. Karlsen called him "level-headed and mature." He also noted Ødegaard's intelligence and good performance in school. Former Norway international Jan Åge Fjørtoft supported his move to Real Madrid. He said it was a chance to learn from Zinedine Zidane. However, he warned that Ødegaard needed time to develop because he was so young. Ødegaard himself said, "If you get carried away now, you won't get far in 10 years. I'm supposed to be at my best then, not now."

Many media sources now describe Ødegaard as one of the best midfielders in the world.

Personal Life

Ødegaard's father, Hans Erik Ødegaard, was also a footballer. He played as a midfielder for Strømsgodset and Sandefjord Fotball. He was also an assistant manager for Mjøndalen IF. Martin was still in middle school when he made his professional debut. He has since finished his required education in Norway. As a boy, Ødegaard admired Lionel Messi. He is good friends with fellow Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland. They met when they were on the U-21 national team.

Ødegaard grew up in a Christian family. He has said that his religious faith is an important part of his life. In 2015, Time magazine named him one of the 30 most influential teenagers. People often praise how well Ødegaard speaks to the media. One Norwegian journalist said in 2022 that he was "so well spoken."

Ødegaard is in a relationship with Norwegian dancer Helene Spilling. They had a civil marriage in November 2024. Their formal wedding ceremony took place on 21 June 2025. Their first child, a son, was born on 1 December 2024. Besides his native Norwegian, Ødegaard also speaks English, Spanish, and some Dutch.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ødegaard goal.

List of international goals scored by Martin Ødegaard

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	7 June 2019	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	17	Romania	2–0	2–2	UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
2	25 March 2022	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	38	Slovakia	2–0	2–0	Friendly
3	12 September 2023	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	53	Georgia	2–0	2–1	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

Awards and Achievements

Real Sociedad

• Copa del Rey: 2019–20

Arsenal

• FA Community Shield: 2023

Individual Awards

• Gullballen: 2019 (Best Norwegian Footballer)
• Kniksen's Honour Award: 2022
• Tippeligaen Young Player of the Year: 2014
• Idrettsgallaen Breakthrough of the Year: 2014
• Eredivisie Team of the Year: 2018–19
• Vitesse Player of the Year: 2018–19
• UEFA La Liga Revelation Team of the Year: 2019–20
• Arsenal Player of the Season: 2022–23, 2023–24
• Premier League Player of the Month: November/December 2022
• La Liga Player of the Month: September 2019
• Eredivisie Player of the Month: April 2019
• Eredivisie Talent of the Month: May 2019
• London Football Awards Premier League Player of the Year: 2023
• PFA Team of the Year: 2022–23 Premier League, 2023–24 Premier League
• ESM Team of the Year: 2022–23
• The Athletic Premier League Team of the Season: 2023–24

See also

In Spanish: Martin Ødegaard para niños