Martin Odegaard Sets World Cup Record with Historic Assists
Odegaard's Remarkable Achievement
In a historic moment for Norwegian football, Martin Odegaard matched a significant world record by assisting Nusa's stunning goal during Norway's inaugural FIFA World Cup win against Ivory Coast at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, securing a 2-1 victory on June 30. The captain of Norway has accomplished a rare feat, having assisted in every match he played in the World Cup, a milestone achieved only twice before in the tournament's history. Odegaard's journey began with a debut assist to Leo Østigard in a 4-1 triumph over Iraq. He followed this by setting up Erling Haaland's goal in a crucial 3-2 win against Senegal, which guaranteed their advancement to the knockout stage. He was rested for the final group match against France.
Martin Odegaard Makes History
Odegaard has now become the third player ever to record an assist in each of his first three World Cup matches. The last player to achieve this was the legendary German footballer Michael Ballack in 2002, during Germany's journey to the finals. Players With Assists in Their First Three FIFA World Cup Matches (According to OPTA Since 1966)
| Player | Country | Year |
| Igor Belanov | USSR | 1986 |
| Michael Ballack | Germany | 2002 |
| Martin Odegaard | Norway | 2026 |
Odegaard now has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first player to assist in his first four World Cup matches when Norway faces off against Brazil, the five-time champions, in the Round of 16 on July 5 in New Jersey. In the match against Ivory Coast, Amad Diallo equalized in the 74th minute, but Erling Haaland restored Norway's lead in the 86th minute. Nusa's goal, set up by Odegaard, marked Norway's second goal in a World Cup knockout match, the first being 88 years ago in 1938 during a 2-1 loss to Italy.