“I’m not the same person I was two months ago” - Nusa on the World Cup

In partnership with

RB Leipzig

·6 August 2026

“I’m not the same person I was two months ago” - Nusa on the World Cup

The summer of 2026 is one that Antonio Nusa will likely never forget. The attacker thrilled an entire nation with Norway at the World Cup, scored a stunning goal, helped defeat Brazil and experienced moments that had an impact on him far beyond football.

In an in-depth interview, Toni talks about shedding tears of joy on the pitch, his special reunion with his idol Neymar, the incredible reception Norway received back home and why he’s a different person from the one who left for the tournament two months ago. He also reveals how much he missed his teammates and how it feels to be back with the Red Bulls.

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Toni, when you close your eyes and think back to the World Cup, what’s the first image that comes to mind?

“Walking out onto the pitch for our opening game against Iraq. I had no idea what to expect. The atmosphere was incredible even during the warm-up. The stadium was already packed and the fans were singing their hearts out. Then we lined up for the national anthems and I saw all the Norway shirts and flags. It gave me goosebumps.”

How did the World Cup affect you emotionally, both as a footballer and as a person?

“It changed quite a lot for me. I’m not the same person I was two months ago when we set off for America. This summer helped me mature as a person. All those unforgettable experiences have had a positive influence on me, and I’m very happy about that.”

Were there any moments during the World Cup that particularly moved you?

“Oh yes, definitely. After scoring against Ivory Coast, I looked into the stands for my family. They were all crying with joy. But the game was still going on, so I couldn’t really let the emotions get to me at that point.When the final whistle went and we knew we’d won and reached the next round, it all came out. I couldn’t hold back the tears of joy any longer. I had to process it all. You could see me standing alone on the pitch and just how emotional I was. It was all crazy.”

Your stunning goal helped Norway reach the round of 16. Did you know it was going in as soon as you hit it?

“No, not at all. It felt good, but there were so many players in front of me that I couldn’t see anything. I just waited for the crowd’s reaction. Were they going to cheer or not? Then they did, and I just took off running.”

You’ve already scored a number of spectacular goals. Where does that one rank in your career so far?

“It’s definitely number one!”

The victory over Brazil was one of the greatest results in Norwegian football history. When did you realise just how much that night meant to the country?

“We saw lots of videos from Norway showing people celebrating in the streets. One that particularly stayed with me showed thousands of people doing our rowing celebration together. I’d never seen scenes like that in Norway before.People stayed up through the night to watch our games. There was a very special feeling across the country that summer, and it grew with every victory. It was indescribable for us to know that our performances had created that and that we’d become part of Norwegian history.The win over Brazil was the absolute high point. Even though I’ve already said so much about it, I still find it difficult to put the feeling into words. What remains is the sense that we brought the whole country closer together.”

Neymar was one of your biggest idols growing up. What was it like suddenly sharing a pitch with him at a World Cup? Did you get the chance to speak?

“He remembered me from when we first met during RB Leipzig’s tour of Brazil last year and came over before the game with a huge smile on his face. He wanted to know how I was and how things were going. I really appreciated that. He was very emotional after the game. I gave him a quick hug and wished him all the best.”

Were you in contact with your teammates during the World Cup?

“Yes, I exchanged messages with a few of them. I also watched pretty much every game involving the lads who were at the World Cup from our team hotel. I was especially pleased for Assan when I heard he’d received a late call-up for Germany, so of course I congratulated him.I spoke to Yan quite a lot before we faced each other in the round of 32. We joked around beforehand and each told the other that he obviously didn’t stand a chance. It was really cool to see him at the stadium, even though things got very competitive once we were out on the pitch.”

What happened after the World Cup?

“As soon as we landed in Oslo, we attended a reception at the Royal Palace, where we were welcomed by King Harald V and his family. The streets were packed with people on the way there.Around 200,000 people cheered us on as we travelled through the crowds on a bus. We felt so much love. It was just crazy to experience that.”

The World Cup is behind you now. How does it feel to be back with the Red Bulls?

“I’m really looking forward to being back out on the pitch with the lads. So much happened over the summer that it feels like an eternity since I was last in Leipzig. I really missed them, so it’s great to be back.”

Have you already spoken to Micho?

“Yes, he contacted me after taking charge and we had a really nice conversation. I’m looking forward to getting to know him and the coaching staff better and working with them.”

Thanks, Toni. It’s great to have you back!

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