Arsenal wonderkid Luis Munoz has made European football history after becoming the youngest player to appear in the UEFA Youth League, taking to the pitch at just 13 years and 343 days.
The milestone came during Arsenal Under-19s’ 4-2 victory over Bayern Munich at Meadow Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Who Is Luis Munoz? Arsenal’s Youngest UEFA Youth League Player
Munoz, a highly rated midfielder in Arsenal’s academy, has been playing above his age group for several seasons.
In September, he featured for England’s Under-15 squad, and earlier in November, he helped Arsenal’s Under-16s win the Premier League National Championship.
Munoz was among several schoolboys included in Arsenal’s squad to gain valuable Youth League matchday experience, with the club’s chances of reaching the knockout rounds considered slim.
Youngest Player in UEFA Youth League History
By making his debut at 13 years and 343 days, Munoz breaks the previous Youth League record held by Liam Payas, who played for Lincoln Red Imps aged 14 years and 93 days.
He also surpasses Arsenal’s previous youngest participant in the competition, Max Dowman, who is tipped to break the youngest Premier League goalscorer record. He made his UEFA Youth League debut at 14.
The UEFA youth tournament mirrors the Champions League structure, featuring Under-19 sides from participating clubs along with the youth champions of UEFA’s member nations.
For this season, players must be born on or after January 1, 2007, though teams may include up to five players born in 2006.
Arsenal U19s vs Bayern Munich U19s
Munoz entered the match with five minutes of normal time remaining, replacing goalscorer Kyran Thompson and briefly operating as a forward.
Arsenal won 4-2, with Max Dowman opening the scoring after good work by Kyran Thompson, who went on to add Arsenal’s second.
Ceadach O’Neill scored what proved to be the winner before Dowman sealed the result with a brilliant late solo goal.
For Bayern Munich, Yil Gashi scored early, and Ljubo Puljic netted a late consolation.
Munoz wasn’t the only young debutant: Emerson Nwaneri, younger brother of first-teamer Ethan, also came off the bench at age 15.
Arsenal’s victory is their first of this Youth League campaign and keeps their knockout hopes alive heading into the final group match against Club Brugge on December 10.
They overtake Bayern into 30th in the table, but only the top 22 teams qualify for the next round.
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