Martin Ødegaard #10

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When he was six years old, Ødegaard kicked a football at 60km/h. He played his first senior match at the age of 13. Two years later, he had dominated Norway's top division to such an extent he became the world's most sought-after wonderkid. When he made his debut for the national team at the age of 15, Ødegaard’s technique, ability to read the game and dictate the tempo made him look like a seasoned pro. "I needed five minutes to see that he has what it takes," said the then Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola. Having joined Real Madrid in 2015, he made his debut as a substitute, replacing Cristiano Ronaldo. His rise to the top was not linear though and there were setbacks with the national team and loan spells at Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad before a transformative move to Arsenal. Now, though, he is the captain for club and country and will lead Norway in their first World Cup since the year he was born. It is safe to say that the wonderkid has become a man.

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