Ex-England and Manchester United forward Michael Owen has strongly hit back at comparisons between himself and former teammate Wayne Rooney during the earlier stages of their career.
Owen didn’t mince his words while he addressed an X (formerly) post from Match of the Day, which posed the question: “Who was the better player at the age of 17, Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney?”
The former Liverpool star, who took the footballing world by storm as a teenager, wasted no time in reeling out his and Rooney’s stats at age 17 and unabashedly declared himself the better of the two at that stage of their various careers.
Taking to the comment section of Match of the Day’s post, Owen responded: “At 17, I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored six. At 18, I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming fourth in the Ballon d’Or), Wazza scored nine.
“In our opening seven seasons, Wazza didn’t outscore me once (117 goals vs. 80). In which time I became the second youngest Ballon d’Or winner ever.
“Injuries hindered me from then on while he sustained his level. Therefore, he’ll go down as a better player than me. But, at 17, please……”
The stats certainly back up Owen’s claims, but Rooney was in truth an absolute beast during his younger years, bursting onto the scene at Everton and going on to conquer the world at Manchester United.
While Rooney shone at the highest level for many many years, injury did prevent Owen, who is still the last English player to win the Ballon d’Or, from lasting very long at the highest level of the game.
Nevertheless, in terms of their exploits as wonder kids, Owen stands out thanks to his incredible goal-scoring records and achievements.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
