Arsenal teenager Max Dowman eclipses Jude Bellingham to become youngest ever England Under-21 player during 1-0 friendly defeat to Portugal
Arsenal academy prodigy Max Dowman has broken Jude Bellingham's long-standing record to become the youngest player in history to represent England at Under-21 level.
Key points
- Teenager adds another major milestone Friday's outing is the latest landmark in a remarkable breakthrough for the youngster, who is currently serving a domestic suspension after being sent off during Arsenal's Carabao Cup defeat against Fleetwood Town.
- Furthermore, when the north London club lifted the league trophy in May, he received a winner's medal at 16 years and 144 days old to become the competition's youngest champion.
- Gunners sensation breaks youthful benchmark Replacing Middlesbrough winger Amario Cozier-Duberry in the 61st minute on Friday night, Dowman made his Young Lions bow aged 16 years, 10 months and 13 days.
Dowman also etched his name into the top-flight history books during the previous campaign by becoming the Premier League's youngest ever goalscorer against Everton aged 16 years and 73 days.
The 16-year-old talent came off the substitutes' bench during the second period of Friday's narrow 1-0 international friendly defeat against Portugal at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol.
Additional details
- Opening strike settles competitive contest On the pitch, Portugal threatened early when Mezian Mesloub shot straight at Stevenage goalkeeper Tommy Setford, before Borussia Dortmund loanee Ethan Nwaneri fired a free-kick over following a foul on Divin Mubama.
- After Setford denied Martim Fernandes from a tight angle and produced an instinctive stop to tip away a deflected effort from Gustavo Sa, Dowman and fellow debutant Trey Nyoni shifted the momentum alongside fellow 61st-minute substitutes.
- Defending champions suffer rare setback Friday's defeat means Carsley's side have lost consecutive matches for the first time since March 2021 after falling against the Republic of Ireland in October.
- Luis Freire's visitors broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Afonso Moreira surged past Burnley defender Max Alleyne down the left flank and squeezed a low strike underneath Setford's hand.
- Last season, he became the youngest player in Champions League history when he featured at the age of 15 years and 308 days.
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