It was at the end of March that Nolan Gosselin flew to Spain with his father Nicolas and his grandmother Jocelyne. A journey of around ten days to participate in the World Challenge of the foundation of Real Madrid.
The 9-year-old career player had the chance to be selected for one of the three Canadian teams during a Real Madrid Foundation camp held at the Saint-François Seminary in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures in August 2023. He therefore participated in unique training sessions organized by the Real Madrid Foundation in addition to representing Canada at the 2024 World Challenge.
Nolan Gosselin represented Canada at this soccer event which brought together teams from 40 countries. Photo: Offered by Nicolas Gosselin
A global tournament
Moreover, his team, Canada Bleu won the bronze medal in category 10. “I was happy to play soccer, to win and to come back with the bronze medal. What I liked the most was winning the medal. I did not expect that. I also made other friends,” comments Nolan.
The World Challenge 2024 brought together around forty teams from around the world, or more than 500 young athletes who would represent around fifteen countries. The U10 category opposed Brazil, three teams from Canada, Japan, Singapore, Turkey, six teams from the United States, Egypt, Spain as well as the DACH which brought together Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “We played in the Real Madrid training stadium at Real Sport City and in the Luis Aragonés stadium. It’s a big organization and everything was planned. We just had to read our emails and we knew where to go and what to do. It’s an enriching experience in terms of collaborating with other people who don’t speak the same language as us. We really loved it,” underlines Nicolas Gosselin.
Nolan’s team included players from Quebec as well as Manitoba and Ontario. The Canadians won against Singapore, 3-0, USA Green, 3-1, DACH, 6-1, only to draw 1-1 against USA Black and lose, 3 at 1, against the Red United States team. It was then the 3 to 1 victory against Spain which allowed Canada Bleu to win the bronze medal. “At school, everyone comes to see me because they are so impressed. They find it fun for me,” Nolan suggests, adding that this experience greatly helps him evolve in his training, the Éclairs de Saint-Étienne.
A Real Madrid match
A highlight of the trip was that Nolan and his companions had the chance to attend a Real Madrid match. “The stadium is incredible. It’s four times the Bell Center. It’s 80,000 people and it’s always full. The Spanish are a little crazy about soccer. Things were going quickly on the ground. Much more than me,” emphasize the father and son.
This summer, he will participate in the Paris Saint-Germain camp at the Saint-François seminary facilities. He will have the chance to be selected for an elite camp which will take place in France in March 2025.
