Brief

Arsenal midfielder Odegaard injured after Real Madrid defender’s tackle

The midfielder suffered a twisted ankle in stoppage time, sparking a heated exchange with Silva and prompting a review of his fitness for upcoming fixtures.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:30:22 GMT

During Norway’s 2-1 Nations League defeat to Portugal in Oslo, Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard was injured after a late tackle by Real Madrid’s Bernardo Silva. Silva’s challenge from behind twisted Odegaard’s right ankle, forcing the player to limp out of the stadium and sparking a confrontation on the halfway line.

Odegaard, who had already passed the ball, was tackled as he moved forward. The defender’s late contact caused the ankle to twist awkwardly, leading Odegaard to confront Silva in the 90th minute. He reportedly shouted, "F**k you," and later told TV2 that the tackle was unacceptable, saying, "It doesn't belong on a football field. It's a shame that people do that, but that's life."

Silva, who has been a former Manchester City midfielder and now plays for Real Madrid, responded to reporters after the match, saying, "What? That is football, my friend." The incident has prompted Arsenal to seek a medical assessment of Odegaard’s ankle ahead of Norway’s next match against Wales on Thursday and the return fixture against Portugal on Sunday.

Odegaard expressed hope that he would recover in time, stating, "I hope not, but I got a knock on my ankle there. So it probably won't be good tonight." Norway’s coaching staff will monitor his condition closely as the team prepares for the upcoming games.

Key facts

Odegaard twisted his right ankle after a tackle by Bernardo Silva (standard.co.uk)
The incident occurred in stoppage time of Norway’s 2-1 loss to Portugal (standard.co.uk)
Odegaard confronted Silva on the halfway line and shouted "F**k you" (standard.co.uk)
Silva responded to reporters saying, "What? That is football, my friend." (standard.co.uk)
Odegaard will be assessed before Norway’s next fixture against Wales (standard.co.uk)

Background

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber has also been dealing with injury concerns, missing training with the Netherlands squad as he recovers from a groin problem. The Nations League schedule has seen several players sidelined, including Liverpool striker Alexander Isak, who will miss the remaining fixtures after a minor injury in Sweden’s match.

Why it matters

Odegaard’s injury could affect Arsenal’s midfield options and Norway’s squad selection for upcoming Nations League matches.

What happens next

Arsenal will assess Odegaard’s ankle before the next international break; Norway’s coaching staff will decide on his availability for the Wales and Portugal games.