Kanu’s Champions League record remains unbroken after Arsenal’s defeat
Nwankwo Kanu’s record as the youngest UEFA Champions League winner still stands after Arsenal’s latest attempt to dethrone him fell short. The Nigerian legend set his mark as a teenager in Vienna, and despite close calls, no player has surpassed his achievement. Arsenal’s young talent, Max Dowman, was on the bench for the final but did not get the chance to rewrite history. The record remains intact, highlighting Kanu’s enduring legacy in European football.
Match highlights
- Nwankwo Kanu became the youngest player to win the UEFA Champions League, lifting the trophy with Ajax at 18 years and 296 days old on May 24, 1995 in Vienna.
- Arsenal’s Max Dowman, aged 16, was among the substitutes in the final but did not play, so Kanu’s record stands.
- Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Puskás Aréna, with Gabriel Magalhães missing the decisive penalty.
- Kanu contributed 12 goals during Ajax’s unbeaten 1994/95 season, including key moments in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
- Three members of that Ajax team, including Kanu and Patrick Kluivert, hold the top spots as the youngest Champions League winners.
