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The 10 youngest players in Champions League history
Updated: 30 May 2026 04:06 CDT |
4 min read
News
Max Dowman is the youngest player to ever feature in the Champions League after making his debut at just 15 years and 308 days old.
Arsenal handed the English wonderkid his bow in Europe's premier competition in a 3-0 away win over Slavia Prague in November 2025, less than three months after he became the second-youngest debutant in Premier League history.
The second-youngest Champions League player of all time is Youssoufa Moukoko, who played for Borussia Dortmund against Zenit St. Petersburg in 2020, aged 16 years and 18 days.
Two of the three youngest players on our list debuted in the competition within the past year, as Filip Pavic is in third following his appearance for Bayern Munich against Atalanta at 16 years, one month and 27 days.
Lamine Yamal, who first appeared for Barcelona in the competition aged 16 years, 2 months and 6 days, is fourth on the list. He came on as a 68th-minute substitute for Joao Felix during a 5-0 victory over Royal Antwerp in September 2023.
Celestine Babayoro is the fifth-youngest player to ever play in the Champions League after making his debut in the competition for Anderlecht against FCSB back in November 1994 aged 16 years, 2 months and 25 days.
The sixth-youngest Champions League player is Rayan Cherki. The Frenchman first played in Europe’s elite club competition at 16 years, 3 months and 10 days old when he replaced Maxwel Cornet during Lyon’s 2-0 loss to Zenit St Petersburg in November 2019.
Arsenal have two players in the top 10 and both have come this past season as, at 16 years, three months and 11 days, Marli Simon made an appearance for the Gunners in a 3-0 victory over Club Brugge to be placed seventh.
In eighth place is forgotten wonderkid Alen Halilovic, who made his Champions League debut for Dinamo Zagreb aged 16 years, 4 months and 6 days in October 2012. The Croatian side lost 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain and Halilovic was sold to Barcelona less than two years later.
Youri Tielemans is the ninth-youngest player to feature in the Champions League after starting Anderlecht’s 3-0 defeat to Olympiacos in October 2013. He was 16 years, 4 months and 25 days old.
Francesco Camarda became the tenth-youngest Champions League player in history when he made his debut in the competition at the age of 16 years, 7 months and 12 days in October 2024. He replaced Alvaro Morata in the 7th minute of AC Milan’s 3-1 victory over Club Brugge.
Youngest Champions League Players Ever
| Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Max Dowman | Arsenal | 15 years 10 months 04 days |
| 2. Youssoufa Moukoko | Dortmund | 16 years 18 days |
| 3. Filip Pavic | Bayern | 16 years 01 month 27 days |
| 4. Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | 16 years 02 months 06 days |
| 5. Celestine Babayaro | Anderlecht | 16 years 02 months 25 days |
| 6. Rayan Cherki | Lyon | 16 years 03 months 10 days |
| 7. Marli Simon | Arsenal | 16 years 03 months 11 days |
| 8. Alen Haliovic | Dinamo | 16 years 04 months 06 days |
| 9. Youri Tielemans | Anderlecht | 16 years 04 months 25 days |
| 10. Francesco Camarda | Milan | 16 years 07 months 12 days |
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