Luis Munoz Makes History as Youngest Player in UEFA Youth League

Arsenal’s Luis Munoz has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to participate in the UEFA Youth League at the age of just 13.

Born on December 18, 2011, Munoz came off the bench for Arsenal’s under-19 team during their 4-2 victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

This remarkable achievement breaks the previous record held by Liam Payas, who played for Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps last year at the age of 14 years, three months, and one day.

Munoz is also a member of the England U15 national team and is among several schoolboy players included in Arsenal’s squad to gain valuable experience, especially as progression to the knockout stages appears unlikely.

The UEFA Youth League operates under a format similar to that of the Champions League, featuring the under-19 teams of clubs competing in the senior tournament, along with the domestic youth champions from UEFA’s member associations.

For the current season, players born on or after January 1, 2007, are eligible to compete, with the allowance of up to five players born in 2006.

Munoz aspires to follow in the footsteps of Max Dowman, aged 15, who has recently made the leap to Mikel Arteta’s first team this season and scored two goals in Wednesday’s youth match.

He was not the only young talent from Arsenal to make his debut in the UEFA Youth League; highly-rated Emerson Nwaneri, the brother of first-team midfielder Ethan, also came on as a substitute.