Wayne Rooney has given his view on the recent social media comparisons between him and former England teammate Michael Owen.
Rooney and Owen are two of English football’s most notorious wonderkids, with each breaking into the England side as teenagers and later playing alongside each other for the national team.
Owen remains the only teenager to have won the Premier League’s Golden Boot and the last Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or, having claimed the 2001 award. Rooney, however, outscored Owen for England and in the Premier League, winning a greater collection of team honours.
Replying to a question asking which player was superior aged 17, Owen stated his case on social media. On X, he wrote: “At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6.
“At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming 4th in The Ballon d’Or), Wazza scored 9. In our opening 7 seasons, Wazza didn’t outscore me once (117 goals v 80). In which time I became the 2nd 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……”
Rooney has now given his opinion and said he would not want to compare himself to his former teammate, a player he grew up attempting to impersonate.
“Michael Owen at 17, 18, was incredible, Rooney told The Wayne Rooney show.
“I used to go out on the streets and pretend to be him, pretend to be Michael Owen, even though he played for Liverpool. I completely understand what he’s saying but we’re two completely different footballers. Michael Owen, for a three, four-year period, was probably the best centre-forward in the world.
“Unfortunately he did get his injuries and he probably couldn’t adapt his game as well as I could. I think his comments are fair but I’d never judge myself against Michael Owen because he’s someone that I actually looked up to and had the pleasure of playing alongside.”
Read – Iconic Performances: Michael Owen in Munich
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