At just 13 years old, Arsenal’s Luis Munoz became the youngest player to debut in the UEFA Youth League, coming off the bench in a 4-2 victory against Bayern Munich, surpassing the previous record.
Arsenal’s academy made history this week as prospect Luis Munoz became the youngest player to ever feature in the UEFA Youth League.
The prodigious youngster came off the bench for the Under-19 side in their victory over Bayern Munich, securing a new benchmark for precocity in the European competition.
According to a report from The Mirror, Munoz, who is just 13 years old, was introduced as a second-half substitute during the 4-2 win against Bayern’s youth side at Mangata Developments Stadium.
His appearance surpassed the previous record set by Liam Payas, who was 14 years and 93 days old when he played for Lincoln Red Imps last year.
Munoz, who was born in December 2011 and is a Year 9 student, has been highly regarded within the club. Before his record-breaking cameo in the UEFA Youth League, the midfielder featured for the Under-16 squad that won the Premier League U16 National Finals earlier this month.
The decision to involve Munoz at such a level underscores Arsenal’s continued emphasis on accelerating elite youth talent.
The history-making debut drew immediate reaction from the football community. One fan, reacting to his inclusion, commented:
“I need to watch more of him. Something special is happening at Hale End,” while another noted the implications for the game’s future: “Kids these days are gonna be the most technically gifted ever. Standard of football will only get higher.”
The 4-2 scoreline, secured by goals from Kyran Thompson, Ceadach O’Neill, and two from Max Dowman, was ultimately overshadowed by the 13-year-old’s brief, historic appearance on Wednesday afternoon.