Leo Østigård #4

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Østigård is among the shortest players on the team, yet he is perhaps the best header of the ball. "My father and I have practised heading a lot. I've been heading a ball since I was three years old, so by now I should be good at it," Østigård told NRK Sport. There were signs early on that the boy from the small town of Åndalsnes on the west coast was destined to become a top defender. He watched his first World Cup in 2006 and one player in particular made an impression on him. "Fabio Cannavaro isn't the tallest, but he was 'crazy' in the head and won every duel. He inspired me." Remarkably, Østigård went on to join one of Cannavaro’s former clubs, Napoli, in 2022 and won the Scudetto the following year. With Norway, Østigård lost his starting place in 2025 after some costly mistakes but he is a fighter and he will do anything he can to reclaim his place in the team.

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