Arsenal wonderkid could challenge Lamine Yamal’s Champions League records this season | OneFootball

FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has already etched his name into Champions League history books, becoming the youngest ever starter and knockout-stage player in the competition. Now, another teenage sensation could be on course to challenge those milestones.

Arsenal’s 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman, widely regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in English football, has been included in Mikel Arteta’s Champions League squad for the 2025/26 season. As per SPORT, his selection means he could potentially eclipse two of Yamal’s records before turning 16.

Dowman is no stranger to the spotlight. The Hale End graduate made his Premier League debut earlier this season at just 15 years and 7 months, immediately catching attention by winning a penalty.

His rapid rise has drawn comparisons with legends of the game, with Theo Walcott even likening his dribbling ability to Lionel Messi. Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, has called him “the best 15-year-old player in England, probably in Europe, and maybe in the world.”

Born on December 31, 2009, the teenager now has six group-stage matches in which he could rewrite history. Currently, Youssoufa Moukoko holds the record as the youngest Champions League debutant (16 years and 18 days), but the benchmarks set by Lamine Yamal are the real prize.

The Barcelona star became the youngest ever starter in the competition at 16 years and 83 days, and the youngest knockout participant at 16 years and 223 days.

Dowman, who is still just 15, has a chance to make both these records his own in the upcoming season, at the expense of Lamine. However, it is unlikely to matter much.

Lamine is the benchmark every teenager out there is trying to reach, and records are always meant to be broken. If not Dowman, someone else is going to do it in the future, and let’s wait and see how the 15-year-old Gunner fares this season.