Lionel Messi Makes Bold Claim on Arsenal Youngster Max Dowman

Max Dowman has enjoyed a terrific breakout year into senior football, since making his debut for the Arsenal first-team in August 2025.

The Englishman came off the bench just after the hour mark with the Gunners four goals up against newly promoted Leeds United, and won a penalty which Viktor Gyökeres converted for his second goal in red and white.

Dowman was just 15 years and 235 days old when he made his debut, but fell short of Ethan Nwaneri's record for the youngest Premier League player, set when the midfielder, now on loan at Borussia Dortmund, came on in a victory at Brentford in 2022. 

However, just over two months later, Dowman did become the youngest player to feature in the UEFA Champions League, as Arsenal travelled to Slavia Prague in the league phase last campaign.

In the following months, once the youngster had turned 16, he also became the youngest Premier League goalscorer and the youngest player to lift the league’s trophy.

His achievements from last season were recognised last week with three Guinness World Records certificates, presented at Sobha Realty Training Centre.

The accolades have kept coming this season, with Lionel Messi naming Dowman among his top ten under-21 ‘Rising Stars’ in world football, in collaboration with adidas. 

The youngster was names alongside the likes of Crystal Palace’s Zavier Gozo and Club Tijuana‘s Gilberto Mora, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal.

Dowman is the youngest player to appear on the list, with the other members aged 17 or over.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had released two editions before this year’s list, which features the likes of Nico Paz, Lamine Yamal and Kenan Yıldız.

This season, Dowman will hope to continue to become an established member of the first-team squad.

His only start this campaign has come in the Carabao Cup victory at Ipswich Town, where he scored a brace.

He became the second-youngest player to score in the competition, behind only Cesc Fàbregas and overtaking Jack Wilshere, with both records set while the pair were at Arsenal. 

The youngster’s performance was rewarded with the Carabao Cup’s Player of the Round award for the third round. 

Dowman’s only other appearance for Arsenal’s first-team this campaign came off the bench in the final ten of the shock defeat at Brighton.

While he withdrew from the England under-19 camp due to injury during the international break, he was named on the bench as Arsenal came from behind to beat Leeds on Saturday afternoon.

With the fixture schedule beginning to intensify, Dowman is expected to be called upon more often by Mikel Arteta.