October 8: Arsenal star Max Dowman has been recognized by the Guinness World Records team with three new awards, and he won’t even turn 17 until December.
The Arsenal winger made 13 senior appearances in the 2025-26 season. Most memorable was his goal against Everton, when he raced from his own half, beat two players and rolled the ball into an empty net with Jordan Pickford in the corner. He was 16 years and 73 days old, making him the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.
He already had a record then. Aged 15 years and 308 days, Dowman came off the bench in Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Slavia Prague to become the youngest player ever to appear in the UEFA Champions League. No other 15-year-old has played in the competition.
The third came at the end of the season. Arsenal won their first Premier League title since 2004, with Dowman collecting his winner’s medal aged 16 years and 144 days, the youngest player to do so. The previous starter was Phil Foden, who was 17 when Manchester City won the league.
It was close to a quarter. Dowman made his Premier League debut against Leeds United aged 15 years and 235 days and won a penalty, but team-mate Ethan Nwaneri had been almost two months younger on his debut against Brentford in 2022.
The question on the lips of many is how good can it get?
Many teenage records have come and gone without the races matching. Physical development, injuries and the pressure of early fame have derailed more than one prodigy. Arsenal will also need to manage his minutes carefully at a club now competing for the biggest trophies every season.
But the signs point to an upward trajectory. Dowman has already played and contributed at the highest level of club football, in a title-winning team, before most players his age have even signed a professional contract. If he continues to develop at this rate, the records he holds now may end up being the least of what he achieves.
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