MARTIN ODEGAARD showed off his world class potential with a stupefying assist for Real Sociedad.

The deadlock in Thursday's La Liga game between the Basque side and Alaves was expertly broken by the Norwegian's nutmeg and visionary pass.

After 18 minutes, the 20-year-old received the ball with his back to goal and still some 40 yards out.

A calming touch was turned into a sly nutmeg before his marker could even blink and, not satisfied, Odegaard looked up to spot an impossible pass to teammate Mikel Oyarzabal.

The left-footed through ball bisects the midfield and defence before even the goalkeeper misjudges it – handing Oyarzabal a simply finish from six yards out.

One of a league-high ten chances he made in the game, the moment illustrated why Odegaard became one of the globe's most sought after players at the tender age of 15.

Real Madrid secured the midfielder's signature but his time in the club's academy was far from straightforward.

Loan spells in the Netherlands with Heerenveen and Vitesse helped cut his teeth before breaking out as a bona fide star in the early weeks of his third stint away, at Real Sociedad.

In six games with the San Sebastian club, Odegaard has scored twice and assisted his first goal on Thursday night.

Such form earned him the Player of the Month gong in August – and the curious reward of a giant fish.

Three first-half strikes secured La Real their fourth win of the campaign, moving them second in the table.

But the spotlight was stolen as soon as the first went in and its creator was lauded after the game.

Madrid newspaper MARCA's front page read "Odegaard surpasses himself" on Friday morning.

And fans on Twitter agreed, one posting: "Amazing vision and footwork from Martin Odegaard. Just amazing from him."

Another called him: "The best player in the league thus far and one of the most underrated players in the world."

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