The teenager makes history as Arsenal’s Max Dowman becomes youngest-ever Champions League player. Max Dowman of Arsenal was the youngest player in the history of the Champions League on Tuesday. Moreover, in a historic event, he made his debut at the tender age of 15 and 308 days old in a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague.
The teenager became a record breaker at the age of 18 who subbed Leandro Trossard in the 72nd minute. He claimed the record that was earlier occupied by Youssoufa Moukoko who was 16 and 18 days old to have played in Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
Even in his youth, Dowman did not appear as a misplaced person on the high stage. His initial touches with the ball were very convincing. He immediately found defenders, demonstrated his dribbling abilities and achieved foul to his team. His manager did not fail to notice this show of confidence.
Mikel Arteta was full of praise for the youngster’s temperament, highlighting qualities that cannot be taught. “The first ball he gets, he takes people on. He starts to dribble and gets a foul. That is personality, that is courage,” Arteta said. He further emphasized that Dowman possesses a natural composure. He stated, “You cannot teach that – you either have it or you don’t”.
The New Generation
Dowman is a trail blazer of a new trend among teenage sensations that are pushing themselves into senior football. The book of the youngest players in the Champions League is also currently dominated by the new talents, which suggests the change in the way clubs develop the prodigious talent.
In making his historic debut, Max Dowman has not just made one great record but has drawn the attention of a new talent, bold, and new, into the biggest stage of world football.
As featured on GoonerNews.com