Kanu's Record Still Stands After 31 Years

After 31 years and many near misses, Nwankwo Kanu's record as the youngest player to win the UEFA Champions League remains intact. Arsenal's latest attempt to break that record ended in heartbreak on Saturday night in Budapest. PETER AKINBO reports.

Nwankwo Kanu, a Nigerian football legend, is still the youngest player to win the UEFA Champions League. Arsenal's effort to find a player to break his record ended sadly on Saturday night. Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Puskás Aréna. Gabriel Magalhães missed Arsenal’s last penalty, keeping the trophy in Paris. Arsenal’s dream of winning their first European title in 140 years is now over. Kanu's record lives on for at least another year.

Max Dowman, just 16 years old, was on Arsenal’s bench for the final. The chance of the teenager breaking Kanu's record was one of the exciting stories of the match. If Arsenal had won and Dowman had played, Kanu's record would have been rewritten. But now, Kanu remains the youngest champion.

Kanu won his medal on May 24, 1995, in Vienna when he lifted the trophy with Ajax at just 18 years and 296 days old. He joined Ajax two years earlier from Iwuanyanwu Nationale after impressing at the 1993 U-17 World Cup in Japan. There, he scored five goals in three group matches, helping Nigeria win the tournament.

Ajax quickly recognized Kanu's talent. He became part of one of the best young teams in European football history, led by Louis van Gaal. This team included stars like Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Marc Overmars, Patrick Kluivert, and Finidi George. They left a mark on football for years.

During the historic 1994/95 season, Kanu scored 12 goals in all competitions. Ajax made history by winning both the domestic league and the Champions League without losing a single game. Kanu played a key role in that success. In the quarter-finals against Hajduk Split, he scored the first goal in a 3-0 victory. He also made an impact in the semi-final against Bayern Munich, coming off the bench to help Ajax win 5-2.

In the final in Vienna, Kanu replaced Seedorf in the 53rd minute as Ajax aimed for their first goal. He created chances and nearly scored himself. Ultimately, it was Kluivert who scored the winning goal in the 85th minute to secure the trophy for Ajax.

Three players from that Ajax team are among the youngest Champions League winners ever. Kluivert is second on the list at 18 years and 327 days.

Max Dowman is not an ordinary competitor. He became the youngest player ever to play in the Champions League at just 15 years and 308 days old. He also broke the record as the youngest scorer in Premier League history with a stunning goal against Everton. Dowman has more chances ahead. But on Saturday in Budapest, as Gabriel's penalty went over the bar and PSG celebrated, the challenge fell short again.

Thirty-one years after his triumph in Vienna, King Kanu's record still stands.