Martin Odegaard becomes youngest ever player in European Championship at 15 years and 300 days in Norway victory

  • Martin Odegaard came on as substitute in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier
  • At 15 years and 300 days he is the youngest player in competition's history 
  • Youngster has trained with Manchester United, Liverpool also interested
  • Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid lead hunt for wonderkid
  • Tarik Elyounoussi and Havard Nielsen scored in Norway's 2-1 win vs Bulgaria

Meet Martin Odegaard - the 15-year-old wonderkid, likened to Lionel Messi 

Martin Odegaard became the youngest player in the history of the European Championship as he came on as a substitute in Norway's 2-1 victory over Bulgaria.

Aged 15 years and 300 days, Odegaard replaced Cardiff's Mats Moller Daelhi in the 63rd minute, as goals from Tarik Elyounoussi and Havard Nielsen either side of a Nikolay Bodurov equaliser saw the hosts run out winners at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo.

The European Championship has been running since 1960 and Odegaard beat the previous record held by Sigurdur Jonsson of Iceland, who had held it since playing in a Euro 1984 qualifier aged 16 and 251 days.

Norway's Martin Odegaard comes on as a sub against Bulgaria to become the Euros' youngest every player

Norway's Martin Odegaard comes on as a sub against Bulgaria to become the Euros' youngest every player

Odegaard, aged 15 years and 300 days, tries to keep the ball under pressure from two Bulgarians

Odegaard, aged 15 years and 300 days, tries to keep the ball under pressure from two Bulgarians

Odegaard (right) celebrates Norway's second goal with scorer Havard Nielsen (centre) and Alexander Tettey

Odegaard (right) celebrates Norway's second goal with scorer Havard Nielsen (centre) and Alexander Tettey

Youngest players in Euro qualifiers 

1. Martin Odegaard (Norway) 15 yrs, 300 days

2. Sigurdur Jonsson (Iceland) 16 yrs, 251 days 

3. Peter Jehle (Liechtenstein) 16 yrs, 265 days

4. Levan Kenia (Georgia) 16 yrs, 325 days

5. Daniel Frick (Liechtenstein) 17 yrs, 79 days 

The appearance of Odegaard in the Group H Euro 2016 qualifier will have been noted Europe's biggest clubs, who have already been hot on the tail of the wonderkid likened to Lionel Messi.

Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid lead the hunt, while Odegaard has been to England to train with Manchester United and has spent time in Germany with Bayern, Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund. 

Liverpool are also keen on the Stromsgodset star, aware that Martin and his father Hans-Erik are lifelong Reds supporters.

Odegaard made his debut for Norway on August 27 in a friendly against United Arab Emirates and came on against Bulgaria in Oslo with his side pushing for a winner.

The record for the youngest player to actually appear in the European Championship finals is Jetro Willems, who at 18 years and 71 days came on for Holland in their Euro 2012 group stage match with Denmark.

So another record could be in Odegaard's sight should Norway's positive start in qualification continue and take them to France for the 2016 finals.

Elyounoussi's 13th minute strike was cancelled out by Bodurov two minutes before half-time before Nielsen volleyed home the winning goal in the 72nd minute.

It brought back-to-back wins for Norway who sit third in the qualifying group behind Italy and Croatia who have maximum points after their first three games. 

The match in Oslo also saw Bulgaria coach Ljuboslav Penev (left) brawl with Norway's Stefan Johansen following an incident on the touchline as Norway recorded back-to-back qualifying wins

The match in Oslo also saw Bulgaria coach Ljuboslav Penev (left) brawl with Norway's Stefan Johansen following an incident on the touchline as Norway recorded back-to-back qualifying wins

Norway's Tarik Elyounoussi (centre) scores the opening goals at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo

Norway's Tarik Elyounoussi (centre) scores the opening goals at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo

Bulgaria's Nikolay Bodurov (No 5) celebrates after equalising shorty before half-time for the visitors 

Bulgaria's Nikolay Bodurov (No 5) celebrates after equalising shorty before half-time for the visitors 

Norway now sit third in Group H behind the two automatic qualifying spots for Euro 2016

Norway now sit third in Group H behind the two automatic qualifying spots for Euro 2016

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