UAE set to face 15-year-old Norwegian wonderkid Ødegaard

The UAE will get a glimpse of one of Europe's brightest young talents when the national team takes on Norway next week after the Scandinavians handed a shock call-up to teen sensation Martin Ødegaard.

Mahdi Ali's men travel to the Viking Stadium on August 27 as part of their continued preparations for the defence of their Gulf Cup of Nations title with the 2014 edition kicking off in November.

While The Whites will head to Saudi Arabia as one of the favourites after losing just twice in their last 23 matches, all the focus on their upcoming friendly will be about Ødegaard.

Why? Well, the youngster is only 15 years old. Yes, FIFTEEN.

Ødegaard's call-up to Per-Mathias Høgmo's squad is a reward for his eye catching displays since making his debut for Norwegian top-flight side Strømsgodset last April.

By then, Ødegaard, who had only turned 15 four months earlier, had already caught the attention of some of Europe's biggest clubs and enjoyed training stints with both Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

A left-footed, diminutive forward who likes to dribble, Ødegaard has unsurprisingly drawn comparisons with his hero Lionel Messi.

His ability and a number of match-winning performances for Strømsgodset - formerly managed by new Celtic boss Ronny Delia - have led to a call-up to Norway's senior national side despite his tender years.

As he prepares to make his extraordinary bow on the international stage, don't bet against a move to one of Europe's elite in the future. For now though Ødegaard is content with continuing to learn his trade in his homeland.

"We want Martin to develop," his father Hans Erik Ødegaard, told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang earlier this year.

"That (development) has been the focus over the years. If you start to think about other things, I think the development comes to a halt."

Part of that development could well come against the UAE next Wednesday as he takes his first steps in international football.

Something tells us they won't be his last.

RECORD BREAKER

While Ødegaard is the youngest footballer to play in the Norwegian top-flight, he's not the youngest ever to play professionally.

That honour belongs to Bolivian Mauricio Baldivieso who made a substitute appearance for Aurora in a Bolivian Clausura championship match aged just 12 in 2009.

Peruvian Fernando García had previously held the record after he played his first competitive match for Juan Aurich aged 13 years and 11 months in 2001.