Arsenal star Max Dowman tops the class in the all-new GWR Football Edition 2027
The Guinness World Records Football Edition is back! Our second book solely devoted to the beautiful game, it’s packed with facts and stats for all your favourite players and teams. In the run-up to publication, GWR Adjudicator Caitlin Hyem went along to Arsenal’s training ground to present Max Dowman with three certificates from a record-breaking season – and to mark Max’s inclusion in the Class of ’27, our selection of the most exciting talents from the men’s and women’s game. As the youngest player on our 30-strong list, Max was the perfect choice to help us celebrate our new book.
The 16-year-old winger is enjoying a meteoric rise to the top of football. He only made his first-team debut at the beginning of last season, coming on against Leeds United to become the second-youngest player in English Premier League history, behind his Arsenal clubmate, Ethan Nwaneri. Max immediately showed that he belonged, winning a penalty following a mazy run into the box. On 4 November 2025, he came off the bench during a 3–0 away win at Slavia Prague to become the youngest player in the UEFA Champions League, aged 15 years 308 days. He remains the only 15-year-old to play in Europe’s premier club competition.
In their 100th consecutive season in the top flight, Arsenal were battling for silverware on numerous fronts, and Max was about to play a decisive role in the EPL title race. During a crucial tie against Everton on 14 March, he scored a dazzling breakaway effort in injury time, carrying the ball 60 metres from inside his own half before rolling the ball into an empty net to seal a 2–0 win. Not only had the Gunners secured another valuable three points, but Max had broken the record for the youngest goalscorer in the football (soccer) English Premier League, aged 16 years 73 days.
Arsenal secured the title – their first for 22 years – when rivals Manchester City could only draw 1–1 with Bournemouth. Max picked up his winner’s medal aged 16 years 144 days to become the youngest football (soccer) player to win the Premier League. He had bested the previous record of Manchester City’s Phil Foden by more than a year.
Image credit: David Price / Arsenal FC
After such an incredible season, there’s no denying that Max has set a high bar for himself. However – judging by his performance against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup last month, when he scored twice in a 4–2 victory – this is one young player equipped to handle the pressure.
To see who else has made the Class of ’27 alongside Max – and other stars such as Lamine Yamal, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Hannah Hampton – check out the Guinness World Records Football Edition 2027. It’s bursting with fresh features, a round-up of all the action from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and hundreds of new records from the world’s most popular sport.
Read more stories about record-breaking athletes in our Sports and Fitness section.