Max Dowman makes Arsenal debut at 15: How old was Cristiano Ronaldo in his first Manchester United game?

Arsenal cruised to a 5–0 victory over Leeds United in Premier League action, but the storyline of the day at the Emirates Stadium was the debut of Max Dowman. The 15-year-old midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his first professional minutes, leading many fans to recall the age at which Cristiano Ronaldo first appeared in a Manchester United shirt.

While Dowman broke through at 15, Ronaldo didn’t make his Premier League debut until age 18. The Portuguese star came off the bench on August 16, 2003, in a match against Bolton Wanderers, replacing Nicky Butt in the 60th minute.

It’s worth noting that Ronaldo had already played at the senior level before joining United. He made his professional debut with Sporting CP in Portugal at 17, featuring in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Inter Milan on August 14, 2002.

Strong performances with Sporting’s first team ultimately earned him a record-breaking transfer to Manchester United in 2003, at the time the most expensive deal for a teenage player in Premier League history. He also became the first Portuguese player ever to sign with the Red Devils.

Dowman follows Arsenal’s tradition of young record-breakers

Dowman entered the match in the 64th minute, replacing Noni Madueke with Arsenal already leading 4–0. He made an immediate impact, winning a penalty that Viktor Gyokeres converted to seal the 5–0 victory.

Despite his age, Dowman is not the youngest player to appear in a Premier League game. That distinction still belongs to Ethan Nwaneri, another Arsenal academy product, who debuted at just 15 years and 181 days old against Brentford in September 2022. Dowman was 15 years and 235 days when he stepped onto the field, placing him second on the all-time list.

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, with a specialization in soccer, the NBA, and tennis. He began his professional career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, where he first established himself as a writer. Throughout his career, Gianni has covered major sports events such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open. His ability to report on real-time events and perform well under pressure has made him a valuable member of a top-tier team of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, where he now covers a wide range of sports, including European soccer, MLS, and the NBA.

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