Fredrik Aursnes, born 10 December 1995 (age 30), is a Norwegian central defensive midfielder with Benfica, where he wears the No 8 shirt. He is not a showy player, which is usually the point. His value is in keeping the side stitched together rather than providing much theatre.
His most productive league season came at Molde in 2018, when he scored eight goals in 29 appearances. That remains the standout attacking return in a career built more on use, discipline and repeat selection than headline numbers.
At Benfica in 2026-27, Aursnes remains a regular first-team presence. He has made six Liga Portugal appearances, scoring once, and has also played in Europa League qualifying and the Europa League proper, where he has added another goal. Across all competitions for Benfica, he has 10 appearances and two goals.
He has also stayed involved with Norway, with six World Cup appearances and four in the Nations League in the same period. Now established rather than emerging, Aursnes’ career is that of a dependable midfielder still carrying a proper workload for club and country.
📈 Key stats and insights
