Max Dowman compared to Lionel Messi – but should Thomas Tuchel pick him for World Cup?

Max Dowman has been tipped to be a star player for England in the future – but any talk of him going to this summer’s World Cup has been dismissed.

Dowman announced himself to the Premier League by coming off the bench to win man-of-the-match in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton.

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The 16-year-old became the youngest Premier League goalscorer in history when he scored the Gunners’ second in brilliant style.

England and Arsenal appear to have another genuine superstar on their hands.

Three Lions legend John Terry even compared him to Lionel Messi, while renowned journalist Henry Winter likened him to Kaka.

Dowman comparisons

Speaking on TikTok, Terry said: “Max Dowman, what a player by the way! 16 years of age. Absolutely incredible.

“I watched him play against Chelsea about a year ago, and I’ve not seen anyone glide past players other than Messi.

“That’s a big, big comparison, but this man is a proper talent, and he’s going to play a big part in Arsenal’s future, also England’s as well. But super, super talent and what a win for them today.”

Winter told Sunday Edition on talkSPORT: “He’s obviously special and it’s potential at the moment, but it’s potential that will quickly become reality. 

“I think everyone can see that because of the good people around him. Do you know who reminded me slightly of, and it’s always slightly invidious to compare young players with more established talent, but there’s an element of Kaká with the way he picks up the ball and glides forward and deceptively quick. 

“He absolutely just raced through. He’s a special player.”

Dowman at the World Cup?

One listener to Sunday Edition texted the show asking whether Dowman should be considered for a World Cup place by Thomas Tuchel.

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Tuchel will soon name his team for the upcoming international break, which is the last chance to see his players before the World Cup.

Discussing the chances of that happening, co-host Henry Winter said: “Friday. Press conference. Thomas Tuchel. Absolutely, the first question to be asked. I mean, delete it.”

He then joked: “GCSEs start in mid-May and finish in mid-to-late June, so I think he’d be a doubt for some of the group stage games!”

Theo Walcott famously went to the 2006 World Cup as a 17-year-old, despite being told that he would not play.

Walcott later admitted to talkSPORT that he didn’t deserve to go with then Charlton striker Darren Bent missing out on a place.

Winter added: “I spoke to Steven Gerrard afterwards who was pretty outraged. He said, the World Cup’s no place for work experience.

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“Dowman is far more established. So are you going to take him? I can see why there will be a debate about it.

“But the only thing is, he plays in a position, England have got players on the right and 10s, I think he can play both.

“I think one thing you can guarantee is that he’ll be a force for England in the years to come.”

Dowman vs Rooney

Much has been made about Dowman and comparisons to Wayne Rooney, who also burst onto the scene as a teenager with Everton.

Rooney was 18 when he went to Euro 2004 and scored four goals in four matches before injuring his foot in the quarter-finals.

Winter continued: “There was so much hype and expectation around Rooney from everyone at Everton. 

“From a young age, they were just going, this boy is special. He would go into first team training and absolutely smash the centre-half who was trying to mark him.

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“Duncan Ferguson tells these stories about sort of putting the boxing gloves on with a young Rooney. Obviously, he’d have been only 16 or 17, and he was just fearless. 

“Then when he went to Euro 2004, he was slightly older, but what a player.

“There was so much interest in Wayne Rooney and the newspapers were far more stronger, bigger than in terms of circulation, in terms of the ferocious interest.

“We had that sit down with him at the Lowry in Manchester before the tournament. Rooney was slightly older than Dowman. A late teenager. 

“But Rooney in that tournament, he took Croatia apart, scored twice.

“He was the calmest person in the room when we talked to him when he must have been, I think, about 17.”