AT JUST 15, MAX DOWMAN SMASHES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AGE RECORD FOR ARSENAL
At 15 years and 308 days, Arsenal's Max Dowman is the youngest player in Champions League history. He broke the record in a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague, surpassing Youssoufa Moukoko. Discover the top 5 youngest players ever.
Dowman will turn 16 on New Year’s Eve (REUTERS/David W Cerny)
Max Dowman of Arsenal is now the youngest player to ever play in the Champions League.
He became the first 15-year-old to play in the competition when he came off the bench in Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague.
He smashed the record set by Youssoufa Moukoko of Borussia Dortmund, who participated in the competition between the ages of 16 and 18 years, at the age of 15 years and 308 days.
These five players, some of whom you may recognise, are the youngest in the competition.
Max Dowman
ARSENAL v. Slavia Prague, November 2025: 15 years, 308 days
On Tuesday, Dowman replaced Leandro Trossard, making Champions League history outright. He was the second-youngest player in Premier League history, only surpassed by teammate Ethan Nwaneri. The Premier League's youngest goalscorer record, held by James Vaughan at 16 years and 270 days, can be broken by Dowman, who will turn 16 on New Year's Eve.
Moukoko Youssoufa
16 years, 18 days in Zenit St. Petersburg v. Borussia Dortmund, December 2020
Moukoko, who was already a Germany Under-16 international, established the record for the youngest player in the Champions League when he replaced Felix Passlack shortly before the hour. Despite being the Bundesliga's youngest player and top scorer, he left Dortmund in August 2024, first going on loan to Nice before joining FC Copenhagen permanently this season.
Yamal Lamine
Royal Antwerp v. Barcelona, September 2023: 16 years, 68 days
In a 5-0 victory over the Belgian team, the young wonder from Barcelona and Spain made his tournament debut by replacing Joao Felix in the second half. He made ten appearances in the competition that season, but he was unable to unseat fellow Barcelona star Ansu Fati as the youngest goalscorer. Instead, he finished second on the list by scoring against Monaco one year before his debut.
Babayaro Celestine
November 1994: Steaua Bucharest v. ANDERLECHT, 16 years, 86 days
Before being defeated by Moukoko, Babayaro held the record for being the youngest player for just over 26 years. However, it was not a happy occasion, as he was sent off during the first half of a 1-1 draw in Romania. The full-back went on to achieve more success, playing Premier League football with Chelsea and Newcastle and collecting international awards with Nigeria.
Cherki Rayan
November 2019: Zenit St. Petersburg v. Lyon, 16 years, 102 days
For his 2019 debut at Europe's top table, Cherki, a recent acquisition and rising talent for Manchester City this season, took Maxwel Cornet's place, another potential Premier League player. After starting off the bench in that season's semi-final loss to Bayern Munich, he also had an unlucky start after losing 2-0 to Zenit. He did not play again until he joined City.
ATLéTICO MADRID IMPRESS AS SIMEONE’S SIDE CONTROL GAME TO BEAT UNION 3-1
Atlético Madrid beat Union Saint-Gilloise 3-1 with goals from Julián Álvarez, Conor Gallagher, and Marcos Llorente. The win revives their shaky Champions League campaign after a nervous but dominant display at the Metropolitano.
Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente celebrates scoring his side's third goal during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Union Saint-Gilloise in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Manu Fernandez/AP)
In the Champions League, Atletico Madrid easily defeated Union Saint-Gilloise, thanks to goals from Marcos Llorente, Conor Gallagher, and Julián Alvarez.
Atléti managed to clinch a much-needed victory following a difficult start to their European campaign, despite a goal from Ross Sykes for the Belgian champions that threatened to put the pigeons among the pigeons.
As it turned out, Atletico Madrid needed to win tonight and put on a good show to salvage any chance of leaving their mark on this Champions League campaign. Rob Schoofs nearly gave Union Saint-Gilloise the lead inside five minutes of their slow start as the Belgian team pressed early and had chances right away. Before Atléti started to take charge of the game, USG was a decent bargain in the first half. With little over 30 minutes remaining, José María Giménez, the centre half, had a fantastic chance to put the Spanish team ahead.
Atlético took the lead shortly after this opportunity. After a great counterattack, Simeone's most dangerous player, Alvarez, saw his strike slip by USG goalie Kjell Scherpen. USG had no response when Atléti made their strength and speed matter for the first time. Simeone's team obviously felt more confident after scoring this goal, and they started looking for their second goal to defeat their opponents. When Antoine Griezmann stumbled home from close range, they almost doubled their lead. A VAR review, however, determined that the Frenchman was offside, and the Spaniards entered halftime with a one-goal lead.
As they concluded the first half, Atléti began the second. Defender Dávid Hancko and winger Giuliano Simeone both had missed chances, but the home team put on a strong show and soon earned their second goal. Simeone was rewarded for his side's patience as Gallagher was the target of yet another swift counterattack after they had been pounding on the door for over half. The Englishman was fortunate to have the ball, but his finish was deserving of the second.
When it became evident that USG was losing the game, Atléti lost focus and let the visitors regain the lead. After defender Sykes headed home from a powerful set piece to create some anxiety at the Estadio Metropolitano, chances for striker Promise David became the norm throughout the latter half.
The Atléti's concern was short-lived, though, as they managed to escape the USG push, and Llorente's close-range effort completed a rather unsettling but outstanding performance by Simeone and his team.
JUVE’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DREAMS FALTER AFTER FRUSTRATING NIGHT
Dusan Vlahovic's first-half goal earned Juventus a 1-1 draw with Sporting CP in the Champions League. The result leaves Juve with just 3 points from 4 games, hovering above the elimination places.
Juve’s Champions League Charge Runs Out of Steam - Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images
By putting home Khephren Thuram's low cross in the 34th minute and negating Maximiliano Araujo's early goal for the Portuguese champions, Dusan Vlahovic gave Juventus a point in Turin.
With just three points from four games in Europe's top club competition, Juventus is just above the elimination spots in the league table.
With seven points at the midway stage of the league season, Sporting is comfortably nestled in the play-off spots.
Goal differential is the only thing separating Rui Borges' club from the direct last-16 qualifying spots, but that will alter following Wednesday night's games.
It came as no surprise when Araujo slammed in the first goal off the post in the 12th minute, as Sporting had been the superior team in the first few minutes of the game.
Seconds later, Francisco Trincao watched his wildly deflected effort crash off the woodwork after the crossbar denied the opposing team.
Juve dominated the remainder of the first half after being awakened by that escape, with a revitalised Vlahovic coming close twice before scoring his ninth goal of the year.
When Vlahovic's contract ends next summer, it appears that the club's highest-paid player will depart, since they attempted to transfer him throughout the offseason.
However, club legend and current strategic director Giorgio Chiellini stated that Vlahovic's "door is not closed" to staying in Turin longer.
Following Vlahovic's equaliser, both clubs levelled the score until Jonathan David, a substitute, headed a fantastic chance directly at Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva in stoppage time.