Michael Owen Insists he was England’s best teenager ahead of Wayne Rooney
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Michael Owen has insisted that he was England's best teenage footballer, claiming he outperformed Wayne Rooney during their early years. Owen highlighted his achievements at 17 and 18 years old, stating that at 17 he scored 18 Premier League goals, winning the Golden Boot, while Rooney scored just six. At 18, Owen repeated the feat by scoring 18 goals and again winning the Golden Boot, finishing fourth in the Ballon d’Or voting, whereas Rooney scored nine goals. Owen further mentioned that in their first seven seasons, Rooney never outscored him, tallying 117 goals to Owen's 80, during which Owen became the second youngest Ballon d’Or winner ever. He acknowledged that injuries later affected his career, allowing Rooney to sustain a higher level and eventually be considered the better player overall. Despite this, Owen maintained that he was superior as a teenager[1].
Rooney responded respectfully to Owen's claims, expressing admiration for Owen as a player and teammate. Rooney remarked that he never judged himself against Owen, whom he looked up to and had the chance to play alongside for England and at Manchester United later in Owen's career. He appreciated Owen’s move to Manchester United and spoke highly of his personality despite Owen sometimes coming across as "a little bit boring"[1].
The debate underscores the contrasting career trajectories: Owen was an exceptional young talent who suffered from injuries, while Rooney had a more sustained peak, winning multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League. Both players left significant marks on English football, but Owen’s claim focuses on his teenage years being more productive and distinguished compared to Rooney’s[1].
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