Ragnvald Soma
A dependable Norwegian defender whose steady club career was capped by a dramatic, last-gasp goal for his national team.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Norwegian footballer·Birthday: November 10·Generation X
Biography
Ragnvald Soma's football story is one of quiet consistency punctuated by a single, unforgettable moment. The defender, hailing from the coastal town of Førde, carved out a solid professional path primarily with Brann, the club from Bergen where he became a fan favorite for his no-nonsense approach. His time at Brann was defined by reliability rather than flash, a player managers could trust in the heart of the defense. While his club career was steady, Soma secured his place in Norwegian football lore with a stunning 92nd-minute header against Wales in 2002, a goal that kept Norwegian World Cup qualification hopes alive. That iconic header, celebrated with wild abandon, contrasts with the otherwise unassuming trajectory of a player who embodied the hard-working ethos of Scandinavian football.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ragnvald was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ragnvald Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Ragnvald's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a crucial 92nd-minute winning goal for Norway in a 2002 World Cup qualifier against Wales.
- Made over 150 appearances for SK Brann in the Norwegian top flight.
- Won the Norwegian Cup with Brann in 2004.
Did You Know?
His famous goal against Wales was his first and only international goal for Norway.
He played almost his entire senior club career for just two teams: Sogndal and Brann.
After retiring, he returned to his hometown region and worked in coaching for Sogndal's youth teams.
“A clean tackle and a simple pass—that's the job, and I did it for Brann.”
