Thelo Aasgaard, a Rangers midfielder, finally silenced the disappointment of his 2012 release from the Liverpool academy. After stints at Wigan and Luton, he earned his first senior Norway call‑up in March 2024 and has held a place ever since. His ascent lands him in the Norway World Cup squad alongside Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, and his perseverance has inspired many young players.

Aasgaard’s father Jonathan, a former principal cellist with the Liverpool Philharmonic, watched the squad announcement from Mossley Hill while juggling a concert in London. He noted the surreal scene in Norway where every supermarket product now bears a player’s face, reflecting the nation’s feverish expectations. The midfielder joins only two other former Liverpool schoolboys at the tournament, England’s Anthony Gordon and Iraq’s Ali Al‑Hamadi.

Norway open Group I against Iraq on Tuesday, a match that could pit Aasgaard against fellow ex‑Liverpool talent Al‑Hamadi. A strong debut would cement his reputation after years of setbacks and give the Scots‑based midfielder his first major tournament spotlight. He starts the World Cup with Rangers eager for a decisive performance and hopes to earn a starting spot.