What is the potential for life to change over ten years? Martin Ødegaard would have a lot to say if you were to ask him.
We gather to hear his story in the year 2024, on a gloomy Thursday afternoon in the London suburbs. I feel instantly at ease with him as soon as we start talking, almost as though I’ve known him for ages. Afterwards, I realized that I do, in fact, have this insight to some degree—in fact, we all do.

Norway is known for its legends, and over ten years ago in Drammen, a fifteen-year-old began writing his own story, one that would significantly change the path of his life. Even he, the acclaimed local champion who rose to become a globally renowned prodigy, was unprepared for the incredible sequence of events that would follow. The world was waiting impatiently to find out where Martin Ødegaard would end up. Even though they had a lot of calls, Real Madrid presented the most compelling offer.

But often, things aren’t always as simple as they appear, do they?

The football world often ignores the truth that a phenomenal talent’s journey can occasionally be incredibly hard. Moving away from home is difficult enough, but imagine moving across the continent as a teenager to join the biggest club on the planet? Being constantly watched by millions of people adds to the pressure of this. It’s comparable to being a young, inexperienced football player who isn’t quite ready for the big time. That was Martin’s hard reality, and many people quickly dismissed his aspirations and gave up on him before they had a chance to grow. At the same time he was writing his own story to suit his own requirements.

This circumstance offers an important lesson to learn. Football is a sport that frequently ignores the person who is behind the player. The stage is set up differently every season: more games, more focus, more pressure. Learning from your mistakes can be a difficult endeavor, particularly when millions of people are scrutinizing your mistakes. It’s hard to navigate that reality as an adult; it’s considerably harder as a teenager.

We have followed Martin’s ten-year journey, seeing him grow from adolescent to maturity, experiencing both his accomplishments and failings, and learning a great deal from the difficulties he has encountered. This is a tale about perseverance in the face of hardship, the capacity to overcome obstacles, and the validation that patience is an important attribute. He stood back to get a more comprehensive view, and now that his career is booming, he is at last getting the credit he deserves. His expectation is to succeed as he leads his country and his club into new eras.