Martin Ødegaard matches World Cup history with assist streak

ByKehinde-Hassan Afolabi

Martin Ødegaard has become just the third player in World Cup history to record an assist in each of his first three tournament appearances following Norway’s victory over Ivory Coast.

Norway captain Martin Ødegaard etched his name into soccer folklore during Tuesday’s tense 2-1 knockout triumph over Ivory Coast.

By setting up Antonio Nusa’s brilliant opening goal, the Arsenal playmaker secured a goal creation in each of his first three career World Cup appearances, replicating historic milestones previously reached only by legendary icons of global football.

The magnificent statistical run places the 27-year-old midfielder alongside Soviet Union’s Igor Belanov in 1986 and Germany’s Michael Ballack in 2002.

Furthermore, Ødegaard is the first creative force to string together direct assists in three consecutive tournament matches since Dutch winger Dirk Kuyt famously accomplished the feat during the 2010 edition in South Africa.

Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi is a football journalist whose deep tactical understanding of the game makes him a standout, captivating audiences across print, audio, and video. His poetic background brings a unique rhythm and depth to his work, seamlessly transforming analysis into artistry. With a knack for narration and research, he captures the drama of the game beyond tactics and statistics, making each piece of his; a compelling blend of insight and storytelling.

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