Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has been named captain of Norway national football team’s 26-man squad for this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, the midfielder, who recently guided Arsenal F.C. to the Premier League title, will lead a Norway squad packed with attacking talent including Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb and Jørgen Strand Larsen.

Norway’s squad announcement drew attention after Harald V revealed the final list through a pre-recorded video shared on social media.

Uncapped goalkeeper Sander Tangvik earned a surprise call-up following an injury to Mathias Dyngeland.

Tangvik is the only uncapped player included in the squad after former Russia Under-21 goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was unable to complete a nationality switch in time for the tournament.

Sondre Langås admitted the unusual announcement left players uncertain until the very end.

“I didn’t trust it until the video was finished. I didn’t trust the King for a second,” the Derby County defender told NRK.

Norway will begin their World Cup campaign against Iraq national football team in Boston on June 16 before taking on Senegal national football team and France national football team in the group stage.

The expanded 48-team tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19.

Norway World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Orjan Haskjold Nyland (Sevilla), Egil Selvik (Watford), Sander Tangvik (Hamburger SV).

Defenders: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), David Moller Wolfe (Wolverhampton), Fredrik Bjorkan (Bodo/Glimt), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Torbjorn Heggem (Bologna), Leo Skiri Ostigard (Genoa), Sondre Langas (Derby County), Henrik Falchener (Viking).

Midfielders: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Sander Berge (Fulham), Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica), Patrick Berg (Bodo/Glimt), Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo), Morten Thorsby (Cremonese), Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers).

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid), Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig), Oscar Bobb (Fulham), Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica), Jens Petter Hauge (Bodo/Glimt).

Portugal and Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has extended his extraordinary trophy collection across England, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and international football with Portugal, reaching a total of 36 major team honours

Ronaldo recently captured his first Saudi Pro League title with Al Nassr FC after leading the club to the 2025–26 championship.

He scored twice in a decisive 4–1 final-day victory over Damac, helping Al Nassr secure their first league crown in several years.

With the title, Ronaldo once again extended his legendary legacy, adding another major trophy to an already extraordinary collection and reaffirming his place among the greatest athletes in sporting history.

From the streets of Madeira, Portugal, to the biggest stadiums in world football, Ronaldo’s rise remains one of the most remarkable stories the game has ever seen.

Born into a modest family on the Portuguese island of Madeira, Ronaldo began his football journey with Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United as a teenager in 2003.

Under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the young winger developed into one of Europe’s brightest stars, winning multiple Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.

He later achieved further success with Real Madrid, where he won two league titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies, establishing himself as one of the greatest players in the club’s history.

With major trophies won in England, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and with Portugal, Ronaldo’s career now spans more than two decades of sustained excellence.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Friday, these are the major trophies won by the football legend.

Sporting CP (1)

Portuguese Super Cup — 2002

Manchester United (10)

Premier League — 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09

FA Cup — 2003–04

League Cup — 2005–06, 2008–09

Community Shield — 2007

UEFA Champions League — 2007–08

FIFA Club World Cup — 2008

Real Madrid (15)

La Liga — 2011–12, 2016–17

Copa del Rey — 2010–11, 2013–14

Spanish Super Cup — 2012, 2017

UEFA Champions League — 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18

UEFA Super Cup — 2014, 2017

FIFA Club World Cup — 2014, 2016, 2017

Juventus (5)

Serie A — 2018–19, 2019–20

Coppa Italia — 2020–21

Italian Super Cup — 2018, 2020

Al Nassr (2)

Arab Club Champions Cup — 2023

Saudi Pro League — 2025–26

Portugal (3)

UEFA Euro — 2016

UEFA Nations League — 2018–19, 2024–25

TOTAL: 36 Major Team Trophies

A career spanning more than two decades, across multiple leagues and levels, has made Ronaldo one of the most decorated players in football history.

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Form and fitness concerns are hanging over some of football’s biggest names just three weeks before the World Cup kicks off.

AFP sports looks at five of the stars who must shoulder the burden of their nations’ expectation in the first-ever 48-team finals spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada:

Kylian Mbappe (France)

Mbappe could become the all-time top goalscorer in World Cup history over the next few weeks, but will cross the Atlantic after a troubled time at Real Madrid.

The 27-year-old is yet to win a major trophy in two seasons at the Spanish giants despite his prolific goalscoring record.

Mbappe’s commitment has been questioned after he went on holiday while nursing a hamstring injury towards the end of the season.

A change of scenery on the international stage could be just what he needs as he aims to write more history on the global stage.

Mbappe took the tournament by storm as a teenager in France’s 2018 World Cup win. He plundered another eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final, as Les Bleus missed out on penalties to Argentina four years ago.

He needs just four more to match Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals.

Erling Haaland (Norway)

Haaland finally gets his first taste of a major international tournament after ending Norway’s 28-year wait to reach the World Cup.

The Manchester City striker struck 16 times in eight games during Norway’s flawless qualifying campaign that included two thrashings of Italy.

That took his tally to a remarkable 55 goals in 49 international appearances.

Haaland is the poster boy for a golden generation of Norwegian players, including Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, that have been tipped as dark horses.

But Norway will need their star striker in top form after being handed a tough draw alongside France and African champions Senegal in Group I.

Vinicius Junior (Brazil)

Neymar’s return to the Brazil squad has caught the imagination, but it is Vincius’ performance that will likely determine whether Carlo Ancelotti’s men end up with a sixth star on the famous yellow jersey.

He and Mbappe have had to share the spotlight in Madrid, but the World Cup gives Vinicius the chance to become a national hero in Brazil and win the Ballon d’Or he craves.

Vinicius and his club team-mates famously boycotted the ceremony after he was overlooked for Manchester City’s Rodri despite scoring in the Champions League final two years ago.

But his record for Brazil is patchy. He scored just once in the World Cup four years ago and has only eight goals in 47 caps overall.

Harry Kane (England)

England’s captain and all-time record goalscorer enters probably his last shot at World Cup glory off the back of a stunning season for Bayern Munich.

Kane scored 58 goals in 50 games as Bayern romped to the Bundesliga title and narrowly missed out on the Champions League final.

At international level he has spearheaded the rise of the Three Lions to serial contenders, but is yet to end his nation’s 60-year wait to win a major tournament.

Kane has often been hampered physically at international tournaments, exhausted by his exertions during the club season.

However, this time his minutes have been managed by Bayern for months as they prioritised a deep run in the Champions League, with the Bundesliga long since won.

Lamine Yamal (Spain)

The breakout star of Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, Yamal’s hopes of taking the world by storm will depend on his recovery from a hamstring injury.

The 18-year-old has not featured since suffering the injury for Barcelona on April 22 and could reportedly miss Spain’s first two group games against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.

After a slow start to the season, Yamal had been in blistering form prior to his injury, scoring 24 goals in all as Barca cruised to a second consecutive La Liga title.

Spain will be confident of negotiating the early stages of the tournament before unleashing the player many regard as the best in the world for the latter stages.

AFP

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