Arsenal’s Max Dowman has broken a record previously held by Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, continuing his remarkable rise to stardom at just 16 years old.
Last November, Dowman made his Champions League debut for Arsenal in their victory over Slavia Prague, becoming the youngest player to ever appear in the competition as a substitute.
In the 76th minute of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta brought Dowman on, making him the youngest player to ever feature in a Champions League quarter-final and breaking Yamal’s record.
Dowman played the final 15 minutes of the match in the Portuguese capital at the age of 16 years and 97 days, reflecting Arteta’s belief in him as a future star for the Premier League and the Emirates Stadium.
Dowman witnessed Kai Havertz score the Gunners’ winning goal in the final minute, a move that opens the door for the youngster to feature in the semi-finals and potentially become the youngest player to ever play in the competition, should Arteta decide to include him.
Arsenal host Sporting Lisbon next Wednesday in the second leg, and a victory would see them through to the semi-finals, setting a new record as it would be the first time in the club’s history that they have reached the Champions League semi-finals in two consecutive seasons.
